TRANSPORT

Speed Cameras

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of funding an independent audit of every speed camera.

David Jamieson: The 35 English and Welsh safety camera partnerships participating in the national programme confirmed to my Department in January this year that they were operating camera sites—lists of which my Department published in June and placed in the Libraries of the House—in line with the Department's rules and guidance for the programme.
	I therefore do not regard a further audit as necessary. The cost of such an audit is estimated to be £200,000 or more.

Buses

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the quality bus contracts which have been agreed to date, giving the value, length and date signed in each case.

Charlotte Atkins: No quality bus contracts have to date been submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. We have issued for consultation draft guidance on the application procedure and the criteria for approval of schemes. As announced in the "Future of Transport" White Paper, we intend to streamline the statutory procedure by reducing the minimum period between making and implementing a scheme from the current 21 months to six months. Our guidance will make clear that use of the minimum period will only be appropriate for schemes with a limited impact on bus operators.

Cars

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated number of cars licensed in Britain was in (a) 1975, (b) 1985, (c) 1995 and (d) 2004.

David Jamieson: The number of cars licensed in Great Britain, excluding exempt vehicles, at the end of each year requested was as follows:
	
		
			  Number of cars 
		
		
			 1975 12,526,000 
			 1985 16,454,000 
			 1995 20,505,000 
			 2003 24,985,000

Congestion Charges/Road Pricing

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to introduce (a) congestion charges and (b) road pricing on roads in West Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: It is up to local authorities to decide whether or not to use the permissive powers of the Transport Act 2000 to introduce congestion charging in their areas.

Driving Licences

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many current UK driving licences were in circulation in (a) 1975, (b) 1985, (c) 1995 and (d) 2003.

David Jamieson: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Licence type (1)1975 1985 1995 2003 
		
		
			 Provisional 1,700,000 4,038,334 4,764,525 6,225,946 
			 Full 19,400,000 25,702,696 31,670,582 33,771,687 
			 Total 21,100,000 29,741,030 36,435,107 40,027,633 
		
	
	(1) Estimated

Highways Agency

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) budget and (b) staffing figures for the Highways Agency has been in each year since 1997; and how many new Highways Agency roads were constructed in each of those years.

Alistair Darling: The financial resources allocated to, and consumed by, the Highways Agency in each year since 1997 are identified in the agency's published annual Business Plans for the years 1996–97 to 2004–05 and Annual Reports and Accounts for the years 1996–97 to 2002–03. Staffing figures are also identified in those publications, as are details of progress on the agency's major road construction and improvement schemes.

Leeds City Station

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's estimate is of the line capacity of the heavy rail links into Leeds City Station.

Tony McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) advises that there is no simple way of defining the capacity of an individual station or route. The theoretical maximum capacity will be much greater than the actual capacity of an operational railway providing the mixture of services that demand dictates at an acceptable level of operational performance. The SRA's programme of Route Utilisation Strategies currently determines the most effective use of the network infrastructure. In accordance with the Government's White Paper "The Future of Rail", Network Rail will take on responsibility for drawing up these strategies, for agreement by Government.

Motor Cycle Accidents

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been killed in motorcycle accidents in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: The information requested is not available for the United Kingdom.
	The number of people killed in accidents in Great Britain involving at least one motorcycle for each of the last three years is shown, in the table.
	
		Number of fatalities in accidents involving a motorcycle:
		
			 Year Killed 
		
		
			 2001 643 
			 2002 656 
			 2003 742

Motorway Traffic Officers

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who employs motorway traffic officers; and what their (a) job description, (b) duties and (c) responsibilities are.

David Jamieson: Traffic Officers (TOs) are directly employed by Highways Agency and will be designated to act on behalf of the Secretary of State in accordance with the Traffic Management Act. The Traffic Management Act 2004 sets out how the traffic officers will use their special powers in relation to managing congestion and the avoidance of danger to motorists.
	There is a phased programme for the migration of functions from the police to Highways Agency traffic officers, to ensure that their responsibilities are undertaken in a safe and effective manner. The TOs will only undertake safety critical functions when they are accredited as being fully competent. A copy of the job description that describes the roles, responsibilities and main duties of the TOs in the West Midlands has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Not all of the responsibilities detailed in the job description will be undertaken until this phased programme of migration has taken place and further secondary legislation has been developed.

Network Rail

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the contingent liability in his Department's accounts of £21 billion principal for Network Rail's borrowing relates to.

Tony McNulty: Details of the £21 billion principal of contingent liabilities in support of Network Rail's borrowing are set out in the Secretary of State for Transport's minutes to Parliament of 27 June 2002 and 4 February 2004.
	Details of proposed new contingent liabilities relating to Network Rail's planned Debt Insurance Programme are contained in a minute from the Secretary of State for Transport laid before Parliament on 15 September 2004.

Railways

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who will be responsible for the regional planning assessments in the Rail Review; and how the Rail Review takes passengers' concerns into account.

Tony McNulty: The Department is currently discussing with the SRA, the ORR and the rail industry the details of how planning, including the regional planning assessments, will be conducted in future. Passengers views and concerns will be taken into account through a reformed Rail Passenger Council.

Railways

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements have been made to rolling stock on the Wharfedale Line since 1997; what contribution to those improvements came from public funds; what plans there are for further improvements; and whether Strategic Rail Authority resources previously earmarked for future increases in capacity are still available.

Tony McNulty: As part of the specification for the Arriva Trains Northern franchise 16 new 3-car Class 333 EMUs were introduced in 2000. The SRA provided funding of £3,397,000 for a further eight vehicles to be available by September 2001 and £2,858,900 for another eight vehicles to be available by December 2003. There are currently no plans for SRA funding for further investment in rolling stock.

Railways

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has given to First Great Western Link on the proposed reclassification of the Henley-Twyford branch line as a community railway.

Tony McNulty: None. The Strategic Rail Authority has proposed the designation of a number of local lines as Community Railways to allow them to be developed with the involvement of the local community. There will be consultation with local authorities before any route is designated.

Railways

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of track there are in the rail network.

Tony McNulty: Network Rail advises that its network comprises 19,698 miles of track.

Railways

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what consultation he has (a) undertaken and (b) planned on the structure of the rail franchises in South Essex; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to change the franchise structures of the (a) Fenchurch Street and (b) Liverpool Street rail lines.

Tony McNulty: The Future of Rail White Paper proposes to reduce the number of franchises and we will be considering a range of options. This work is at an early stage but we will engage fully with the industry and consult stakeholders before finalising any proposals. As we have made clear, there is no question of contracts being broken.

Vehicle Manoeuvres/Pollution

Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a comparative assessment of (a) the effect on the safety of road users and (b) the level of pollutants emitted when a road vehicle performs (i) a u-turn and (ii) a three-point turn.

David Jamieson: The safety aspects of any vehicle manoeuvre will be dictated by individual circumstances. Drivers have a responsibility for ensuring that any manoeuvre that has the potential to bring their vehicle into conflict with other road users is carried out in a manner that is safe, legal and convenient to do so. Drivers must also consider if they can control their vehicles in the given circumstances and, while knowledge of the Highway Code will help, if there is any doubt in the driver's mind, neither manoeuvre should be carried out and an alternative method of turning found.
	With regards to effects on pollutant emissions, no comparative assessments have been made and none are planned since, due to the infrequency of these manoeuvres, the impact on air quality would be negligible. However, in general terms, a higher level of pollutants might be expected from three-point turns due to the stop/start nature of the exercise.

Road Traffic Accidents

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of road traffic accident deaths were non-car owners or drivers in (a) 1975, (b) 1980, (c) 1990, (d) 2000 and (e) 2003.

David Jamieson: The information is not available.

Road Traffic Accidents

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been (a) injured and (b) killed in road traffic accidents within the Greater London area in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: The table shows numbers killed and injured on the roads within Greater London in each of the last three years.
	
		
			 Year Killed Injured 
		
		
			 2001 300 44,322 
			 2002 281 41,227 
			 2003 272 38,205

Severn Crossings

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons it is not possible to use a credit card to pay the toll for the Severn Crossings; and what plans he has to introduce this facility.

David Jamieson: There are no plans at present to allow credit card payments due to the fact that finance companies levy up to a 3 per cent. surcharge for such transactions. Neither the Concessionaire (Severn River Crossing plc) nor the Government is currently prepared to fund this surcharge. However, the Concessionaire and the Government will continue to review this position.
	Providing such a facility may also require amending the legislation that prescribes the manner of payment of tolls (The Severn Bridges Regulations 1996—SI 1316). This states that tolls, not already paid for in advance, must be paid in cash to an appointed person at a toll-booth or by the insertion of coins into a machine provided near a toll-booth for the purpose of collecting tolls.
	The Concessionaire does operate a system for pre-payment.

Ship Inspections

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many ships were inspected at UK ports in July and August to assess whether they met International Ship and Port Facility Security Code standards;
	(2)  how many ships entering UK ports failed to meet the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code in July and August; and how many of these ships were (a) denied entry, (b) expelled from port and (c) detained.

David Jamieson: The UK Government take a robust line with non-compliant ships seeking entry into their ports. We have a range of control measures in place for dealing with ships that are in violation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
	It is not our policy to comment in detail on how many ships we inspect or have been denied entry, expelled, or detained at UK ports. However, between July and August 2004 Control Measures, including issuing letters of non-conformance to the ship and Flag State were taken against 17 ships (all foreign flagged).

Vehicle Excise Duty

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much he estimates is owed to the Government for non-payment of vehicle excise duty in respect of the last financial year for which figures are available; what action he is taking to reduce this figure; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The last National Roadside Survey of vehicle excise duty (VED) evasion for which figures are available was carried out in June 2002. The survey indicated that the revenue lost from VED evasion was equivalent to 4.5 per cent. of the total revenue that should be raised. In 2002–03 this equated to £193 million which was offset by £110 million in fines, penalties and relicensing revenue through enforcement activities.
	A range of measures was announced in May 2003 to modernise and tighten the vehicle registration system. These included Continuous Registration which was introduced in January 2004. All those not paying their road tax or declaring their vehicles off the road are detected from DVLA's records and sent a penalty notice. It is now no longer necessary to detect evaders using their vehicles on the road. Early indications are that this system will reduce the amount of VED evaded by around £70m in 2004–05.

Vehicle Identity Check Scheme

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the vehicle identity check scheme; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to set up a review of the vehicle identity check scheme.

David Jamieson: Data extracted from the police National Computer has shown a 7.8 per cent. decrease in car theft—equating to a total of 11,500 cars—in the scheme's first year of operation. On this basis, the total saving to the motorist and, of course, society as a whole, could be more than £58 million.
	The scheme cost £12.5 million to set up and in 2003–04 cost £3.3 million to operate. I am therefore satisfied that the vehicle identity check system is cost effective.
	The scheme is being closely monitored by the Department and will be subject to a formal review in April 2005.

WALES

Civil Service (Job Losses)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which services within his Office will be (a) affected by and (b) subject to job losses consequent on the cuts in the civil service announced in the Spending Review.

Don Touhig: Full details of the work force changes announced in the Spending Review are being worked through, and we are consulting all stakeholders including unions and staff.
	Departments will come forward in due course with details of workforce changes once plans are finalised.

Departmental Absenteeism

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the absenteeism rate was for staff in his Department in each year since 1997.

Peter Hain: Since the establishment of my Department on 1 July 1999 there has been no reported absenteeism.

Departmental Recycling

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the latest available 12-month figures are for the proportion of the Department's redundant documentation, waste paper and card that is recycled; and if he will make a statement on the Department's recycling policy.

Don Touhig: The Wales Office uses the Department of Constitutional Affairs recycling scheme. In line with the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA), we are dedicated to sustainable development, and are currently working with DCA colleagues to introduce a comprehensive strategy and embed the principles into all aspects of our work.
	Currently, all waste paper that can be recycled is disposed of in the appropriate manner, and all offices in the Wales Office have access to recycling bins. These are emptied on a daily basis and collected for recycling once a week. This generates between 10 and 20 full recycling bags each week, compared with up to 10 bags of ordinary rubbish.

Laura Ashley

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Laura Ashley concerning the future of Laura Ashley jobs in mid Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: While my right hon. Friend and I have not met the company recently, we are aware of the company's recent announcement that it intends to reduce it's work force at Newtown and Carno by up to 90. I very much regret the loss of these valuable jobs to the Mid Wales economy.
	I understand that the company took this decision as part of its drive for greater operating efficiency and is currently in consultation with unions and those affected by the decision.
	I am assured that the Assembly's Team Wales partners, including the Welsh Development Agency, are in regular discussions with the company about the situation and will provide all the support they can to find alternative employment for those affected. This includes opening discussions with other local companies currently looking to recruit staff.

Public Appointments

Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will propose to the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales that he make a comparable assessment of the appointment systems for the Head of Public Sector Audit in Wales and the Comptroller and Auditor General in England, with particular reference to safeguards for the independence of the incumbent.

Peter Hain: I am being consulted on the appointment process for the Auditor General for Wales. I am satisfied that it will conform to the Nolan principles and safeguard the independence of the Auditor General.

Travel Costs

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the travel costs were of civil servants in (a) his Department and (b) its predecessor Department in each year since 1997.

Don Touhig: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis) on 7 July 2004, Official Report, column 698W, which gives information about all travel costs incurred by the Wales Office.
	The Wales Office has not previously distinguished between all of the travel costs for Ministers and civil servants, and could provide this information only at disproportionate cost.
	All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in the Civil Service Management Code.

Welsh Language

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many employees of the Wales Office speak Welsh.

Don Touhig: 9 per cent. of Wales Office staff are Welsh speakers. Others have some knowledge of the language.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Sittings of the House

Roger Gale: To ask the Leader of the House for how many (a) hours and (b) days the House has sat in each month during Session 200304.

Peter Hain: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Month (a) Hours (b) Days 
		
		
			 November 2003 17h 52m 2 
			 December 2003 93h 5m 12 
			 January 2004 123h 3m 17 
			 February 2004 103h 34m 14 
			 March 2004 177h 44m 22 
			 April 2004 81h 40m 11 
			 May 2004 131h 12m 17 
			 June 2004 117h 53m 16 
			 July 2004 109h 29m 14 
			 September 2004 57h 52m 7

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Armed Forces Investigations

Harry Cohen: To ask the Solicitor-General what the key role of the Attorney-General is in relation to armed forces investigations and possible prosecutions in respect of allegations of criminal mistreatment of Iraqis or of theft of Iraqi property; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The armed forces prosecuting authorities act independently of the military chain of command. They are subject to the general superintendence of the Attorney General. The current position in relation to the system for investigating and prosecuting soldiers currently serving in Iraq and which involve Iraqi civilians was set out in the written statement by the Attorney General, Official Report, House of Lords, 14 June 2004, c. WS 2224.
	The Attorney plays no role in relation to armed forces investigations. These are undertaken by the Royal Military Police or other service police authority for which the Secretary of State for Defence is responsible.

Departmental Accountancy Practice

Richard Bacon: To ask the Solicitor-General who the Finance Director is of the (a) Crown Prosecution Service, (b) Serious Fraud Office and (c) Treasury Solicitor's Department is; what accountancy qualifications each Director holds; and on how many occasions there has been a qualified opinion on (i) the resource accounts and (ii) other accounts of each office in the last five years.

Harriet Harman: The Finance Directors for the Law Officers' Departments are: Mr. John Graham, Crown Prosecution Service, Mr. David Partridge, Serious Fraud Office. Ms Hilary Jackson, Treasury Solicitor's Department carries out the functions of Finance Director as specified in HM Treasury's 'Government Accounting' in her role as Director of Corporate Strategy.
	None of the Finance Directors above holds an accountancy qualification. The Director of Finance for the CPS is supported by staff with accountancy qualifications. The Finance Director of the Serious Fraud Office is supported by two fully qualified accountants in the finance team and his Head of Accountancy is a Management Board member. The Treasury Solicitor's Director of Finance and Information Systems is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants. He is responsible for day to day financial management, reporting to the Director of Corporate Strategy, and is a member of the Board. The Treasury Solicitor's Board membership has included a fully qualified accountant since January 2001.
	The Crown Prosecution Service's resource accounts for the years 19992000 to 200203 have been agreed by the National Audit Office without qualification. An audit opinion on the resource accounts for 200304 will be available later in the year.
	The SFO's accounts received a qualified opinion in 200102. There have been no other qualified audit opinions.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department received qualified audit opinions on its resource and agency accounts in 19992000 and 200001. Audit opinion on the 200304 accounts will not be available until later in the year.

Departmental Administration Costs

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Solicitor-General what the administration costs were for (a) the Crown Prosecution Service, (b) the Serious Fraud Office and (c) the Treasury Solicitor's Department between the financial years 199697 and 199798.

Harriet Harman: Details of the Law Officers' Departments gross running costs for 199697 and 199798 are contained in Table 5.5 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 200001 (Cm 4601). These figures are on a cash basis. From Public Expenditure Analyses 200102 (Cm 5101), departments' administrative expenditure was reported on a resource basis, as administration costs.

Departmental Staff (Upper Age Limits)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Solicitor-General whether (a) her Department and (b) agencies for which it is responsible (i) have a set retirement age which applies to all or most personnel and (ii) have a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case.

Harriet Harman: The contractual normal retirement age for most staff in the Crown Prosecution Service is 60.
	CPS policy does not deal specifically with this point but in practice the CPS would not normally consider applications for permanent employment if the applicant will have reached the normal contractual retirement age of 60, or beyond, before taking up an appointment.
	The retirement age in operation at HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) is 60 years. However, staff who wish to remain in post after the age of 60 may do so at the discretion of the chief inspector, who will take the following into consideration; the officer's performance, efficiency and HMCPSI's business requirements. Staff on loan from other Government Departments would be subject to the arrangements of the parent department.
	Due to the nature of its work the Inspectorate would be unlikely to appoint an individual as an inspector who had less than three years to serve before his or her normal retirement age. However all decisions would be taken on the basis of performance, efficiency and management requirements.
	The serious fraud office has a flexible retirement policy covering staff below the senior civil service. The policy offers a minimum retirement age of 60 years at which employees may opt to retire and receive full accrued superannuation benefits as of right. Employees cannot remain in employment beyond the day prior to their 65th birthday.
	The normal retirement age for the senior civil service is 60. However, the serious fraud office has the flexibility to retain members of the senior civil service beyond 60 if it is judged to be in the public interest and is satisfied about the fitness and efficiency of the individual to carry out his or her duties.
	There is no maximum age (save for the above policy) beyond which applications for employment will not be considered. Job applicants are made aware of the above policy in the application pack.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, have a 'normal' retirement age of 60 for all their staff. This is the minimum age at which, staff can retire with full superannuation benefits.
	All staff must retire by age 65 except in wholly exceptional circumstances agreed by the Treasury Solicitor. Similarly applications from staff in the senior civil service, for an extension of service beyond age 60, are subject to the specific approval of the Treasury Solicitor.
	There is no bar on age in relation to recruitment. For legal trainees, recruited through the Government Legal Service, there is a two year qualifying period (the training contract) after which, Departments will expect to receive a reasonable period of qualified service.

Departmental Vehicles

David Kidney: To ask the Solicitor-General how many road vehicles are operated by the Department and its agencies; how many personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department have occurred within each of the last five years; and what the Department's policy is for managing work-related road safety.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has an operational fleet of 18 vehicles. There is no record of any personal injury accidents involving the Department's vehicles within the last five years. The Department's policy and procedures for managing work-related road safety is contained within its Departmental Transport Guide.
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) does not operate any road vehicles. HMCPSI does use rental vehicles for its core work of visiting CPS sites for the purpose of inspections and some staff use their own vehicles. However, there have been no accidents over the last five years involving any personal injury. HMCPSI are committed to road safety and expect all drivers to show due care and attention to other users of the highway. The latest instruction has been to ensure all staff are aware of recent changes to the legislation on use of mobile phones while in a motor vehicle and to remind them of their statuary duty/obligation to comply with the law. HMCPSI include road safety as apart of the routine Health and Safety assessments to minimise risks.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department does not operate any road vehicles.
	My own Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers has no vehicles. In respect of the ministerial cars used by the Attorney-General and myself, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Alexander) on 22 July 2004, Official Report, column 490W.

Information and Communication Specialists

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Solicitor-General how many information and communication technology specialists are in full-time employment in the Department.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service employs 33 full-time information and communication technology specialists within its Business and Information Systems Directorate.
	The SFO employs 24 information and technology specialists in total. These comprise:
	Management team3
	Computer forensic specialists11
	Outsourced IT service10
	The management team and computer forensic specialists are full time civil servants. The outsourced IT service is contracted to IBM Global Services. In addition a range of IT support; system development and project management staff totalling 10 man years are employed on an ad hoc or consultancy basis. The outsourced service also provides IT support for my own office, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, under an umbrella arrangement with the Serious Fraud Office. LSLO employs no information and communication technology specialists of its own.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department operates an in-house information service. There are currently 24 full-time information and communication technology specialists (ICT) in the Department. This comprises of 13 full-time permanent ICT specialists and 11 full-time contractor ICT specialists.
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate currently has no information and communication technology specialists in full-time employment.

Ministerial Air Travel

Roy Beggs: To ask the Solicitor-General what the total cost of air travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain was for (a) Ministers and (b) officials of the Law Officers' Department in the latest year for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: The cost of flights by members of HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate to Northern Ireland during the financial year 200304 (the last full year for which figures are available) was 1,640.41. The expenditure was incurred through assistance to the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland in accordance with the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 and through participation in the evaluation of pilot arrangements for establishment of the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland.
	The total cost to the Serious Fraud Office for the financial year 200304 was 10,336.31.
	The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold centrally, details about flight destinations and the costs of individual flights. The information sought for flights between Northern Ireland and Great Britain made by CPS officials in the CPS 42 areas could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. (Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, clause 9).
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department does not hold centrally information in the form required and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. (Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, clause 9).
	My own Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, does not hold centrally information in the form required and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. (Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, clause 9).

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adoption

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on facilitation of inter-country adoption in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The UK Government do not actively promote intercountry or domestic adoption. Section 1 of the Adoption Act 1976 places a duty on all local authorities to provide an adoption service, including a service for intercountry adoption. The Intercountry Adoption Casework Team, a small team of staff based in the Department for Education and Skills provides a telephone and web-based information service to prospective adopters. It also manages the transfer of intercountry adoption applications overseas, ensuring that the documentation is complete and complies with UK legislative requirements. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides a legalisation service to intercountry adopters. Information on the total expenditure by central Government on the processing of intercountry adoption applications is not held centrally.

Adoption

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to facilitate intercountry adoption from Bolivia to the UK.

Margaret Hodge: The UK Government do not actively promote intercountry adoption. The Government do provide a telephone and web-based information service to prospective adopters. It also manages the transfer of intercountry adoption applications overseas, ensuring that the documentation is complete and complies with UK legislative requirements. The Department for Education and Skills also acts as the Central Authority for England under The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption. The Central Authority for Wales is the National Assembly for Wales, for Scotland the Scottish Executive and for Northern Ireland the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. The role of the Central Authority is to ensure that the requirements laid down by the convention are fully met. The UK ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption in 2003. Bolivia has also ratified the Hague Convention. The convention sets out clearly the principles which govern intercountry adoption policy, practice and procedure between contracting states. Principally these are to establish safeguards to ensure that intercountry adoptions take place in the best interests of the child and with respect for his or her fundamental rights as recognised in international law, to establish a system of co-operation amongst Contracting States to ensure that those safeguards are respected and thereby prevent the abduction, the sale of or traffic in children and to secure the recognition in Contracting States of adoptions made in accordance with the convention. Prior to the UK's ratification of the Hague Convention Bolivia has refused to accept applications for intercountry adoption. The Department for Education and Skills has subsequently received correspondence from the Bolivian authorities setting out their additional requirements in relation to intercountry adoption. However, we believe that the convention adequately addresses arrangements for adoption between contracting states.

Adoption

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have been adopted from overseas to the UK in the last five years, broken down by country of origin.

Margaret Hodge: There is no centrally held information on the number of children adopted from overseas to the UK in the last five years broken down by country of origin. However, the tables that give statistics for the number of applications received in the UK by country for the last five years, have been placed in the House Libraries.

Adoption

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of times for processing applications for inter-country adoption in the UK in comparison with other signatories to the Hague Convention.

Margaret Hodge: The Department for Education and Skills has not undertaken any assessment of processing times for England in comparison to other Hague signatories. Operational procedures and domestic legal frameworks governing the processing of intercountry adoption applications will vary considerably for each of the contracting States and it would therefore be difficult to draw any meaningful comparisons. There has been a substantial reduction in the average processing times for intercountry adoption applications in England over the last year.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children aged (a) under one, (b) one to two, (c) three to four, (d) five to 10 and (e) 11 to 16 have been placed for adoption in the last 12 months.

Margaret Hodge: The attached table shows the number of children placed for adoption at 31 March 2003 who have been in that placement for 12 months or less, by age.
	
		Children placed for adoption for 12 months or less at 31 March 2003
		
			 Age at 31 March 2003 Number 
		
		
			 Total 2,300 
			 Under 1 200 
			 1 to 2 810 
			 3 to 4 460 
			 5 to 10 750 
			 11 to 16 40 
			 Over 16 0 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures exclude those children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
	2. Figures over 100 have been rounded to the nearest 100. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	CLA100 and SSDA903 returns.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adoption placements broke down in each of the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: I refer the hon. Member to my response on 6 May 2004, Official Report, column 1740W.

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were successfully placed for adoption by each local authority in 200203.

Margaret Hodge: The following table shows the number of children adopted in 200203 by local authority.
	
		
			 Local authority Number of looked after children adopted 200203 
		
		
			 England 3,500 
			   
			 North East 260 
			 Shire Counties  
			 Durham 30 
			 Northumberland 20 
			 Unitary Authorities  
			 Darlington 5 
			 Hartlepool 1,010 
			 Middlesbrough 25 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 15 
			 Stockton on Tees  
			 Metropolitan Districts  
			 Gateshead 15 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne 40 
			 North Tyneside 30 
			 South Tyneside 15 
			 Sunderland 35 
			   
			 North West 550 
			 Shire Counties  
			 Cheshire 25 
			 Cumbria 30 
			 Lancashire 60 
			 Unitary Authorities  
			 Blackburn and Darwen 10 
			 Blackpool 45 
			 Halton 5 
			 Warrington (2) 
			 Metropolitan Districts  
			 Bolton 20 
			 Bury 20 
			 Knowsley 15 
			 Liverpool 65 
			 Manchester 80 
			 Oldham 20 
			 Rochdale 10 
			 Salford 25 
			 Sefton 15 
			 St. Helens 15 
			 Stockport 10 
			 Tameside 20 
			 Trafford 10 
			 Wigan 15 
			 Wirral 20 
			   
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 440 
			 Shire Counties  
			 North Yorkshire 30 
			 Unitary Authorities  
			 East Riding Yorkshire 15 
			 Kingston Upon Hull 30 
			 N E Lincolnshire 20 
			 North Lincolnshire 10 
			 York 10 
			 Metropolitan Districts  
			 Barnsley 20 
			 Bradford 50 
			 Calderdale 10 
			 Doncaster 35 
			 Kirklees 30 
			 Leeds 75 
			 Rotherham 30 
			 Sheffield 50 
			 Wakefield 25 
			   
			 East Midlands 330 
			 Shire Counties  
			 Derbyshire 50 
			 Leicestershire 15 
			 Lincolnshire 65 
			 Northamptonshire 40 
			 Nottinghamshire 45 
			 Unitary Authorities  
			 Derby 35 
			 Leicester 45 
			 Nottingham 40 
			 Rutland 0 
			   
			 West Midlands 410 
			 Shire Counties  
			 Shropshire 10 
			 Staffordshire 50 
			 Warwickshire 20 
			 Worcestershire 20 
			 Unitary Authorities  
			 Herefordshire 10 
			 Stoke-On-Trent 30 
			 Telford and Wrekin 10 
			 Metropolitan Districts  
			 Birmingham 140 
			 Coventry 35 
			 Dudley 20 
			 Sandwell 20 
			 Solihull 10 
			 Walsall 25 
			 Wolverhampton 15 
			   
			 East of England 305 
			 Shire Counties  
			 Bedfordshire 25 
			 Cambridgeshire 15 
			 Essex 90 
			 Hertfordshire 45 
			 Norfolk 40 
			 Suffolk 35 
			 Unitary Authorities  
			 Luton 15 
			 Peterborough 25 
			 Southend 10 
			 Thurrock 10 
			   
			 London 485 
			 Inner London 255 
			 Camden 20 
			 City of London 0 
			 Greenwich 40 
			 Hackney 15 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 15 
			 Islington 30 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 10 
			 Lambeth 15 
			 Lewisham 20 
			 Southwark 35 
			 Tower Hamlets 15 
			 Wandsworth 15 
			 Westminster 15 
			 Outer London 230 
			 Barking and Dagenham (2) 
			 Barnet 20 
			 Bexley 10 
			 Brent 10 
			 Bromley 20 
			 Croydon 20 
			 Baling 25 
			 Enfield 5 
			 Haringey 10 
			 Harrow 5 
			 Havering 10 
			 Hillingdon 15 
			 Hounslow 25 
			 Kingston Upon Thames (2) 
			 Merton 5 
			 Newham 20 
			 Redbridge 10 
			 Richmond Upon Thames 10 
			 Sutton 0 
			 Waltham Forest (2) 
			   
			 South East 500 
			 Shire Counties  
			 Buckinghamshire 20 
			 East Sussex 50 
			 Hampshire 40 
			 Kent 115 
			 Oxfordshire 30 
			 Surrey 50 
			 West Sussex 40 
			 Unitary Authorities  
			 Bracknell Forest (2) 
			 Brighton and Hove 20 
			 Isle of Wight 10 
			 Medway Towns 25 
			 Milton Keynes 10 
			 Portsmouth 10 
			 Reading 15 
			 Slough 15 
			 Southampton 30 
			 West Berkshire 10 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 10 
			 Wokingham (2) 
			   
			 South West 265 
			 Shire Counties  
			 Cornwall 35 
			 Devon 35 
			 Dorset 15 
			 Gloucestershire 30 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 
			 Somerset 20 
			 Wiltshire 20 
			 Unitary Authorities  
			 Bath and N E Somerset (2) 
			 Bournemouth 15 
			 Bristol 45 
			 North Somerset (2) 
			 Plymouth 20 
			 Poole (2) 
			 South Gloucestershire 10 
			 Swindon 10 
			 Torbay (2) 
		
	
	(2) Figures between 1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced by a hyphen ().
	Notes:
	1. Figures over 1,000 have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	2. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	Children looked after by local authorities, year ending 31 March 2003

Child Care

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate the Government has made of the average amount of money parents in England contribute to the cost of child care.

Margaret Hodge: A number of surveys of parents provide figures relating to the average amount parents pay for child care. Estimates differ depending on the methodology used.
	According to the 'Repeat Survey of Parents Demand for Childcare' 1 , households paying for childcare were spending on average 40 a week on child care. Half of these families paid up to 21 per week and one-in-ten paid more than 100.
	The 2002 Families and Children Study 2 shows that the median total weekly child care costs among all paying families where the mother works were 25 per week in term-time and 35 per week in holidays.
	The Government recognise that making child care affordable is a key challenge for the National Childcare Strategy and has made a substantial investment to achieve this. Working parents, subject to the level of their income, may receive support through the child care element of the working tax credit. We are also introducing greater incentives for employers to support parents with the cost of child care from April 2005. Inland Revenue data on the child care costs of UK parents benefiting from the child care element of the working tax credit show that in April 2004 they had mean allowed weekly costs of 71.12 3 . As a result of this support, almost 318,000 working families in April 2004 were receiving an average of 49.66 per week towards their childcare costs.
	In addition, all 3 and 4-year-olds are now entitled to free, part-time early education which guarantees each of them up to six terms of high quality provision before they reach statutory school age. This reduces the amount of child care that parents of children of this age have to pay for. Government also provides financial support to child care providers to help with start-up costs and sustainability, which will further reduce the costs that must be borne by parents.
	1 Repeat Study of Parents' Demand for Childcare (2002), DfES. This is a nationally representative survey of the demand for child care among parents of children aged 14 and under in England. Interviews were achieved in 5,416 households and the survey was carried out between February and July 2001.
	2 'Families and Children in Britain: Findings from the 2002 Families and Children Study' (2004). Research Report 206 DWP.
	3 The figures on which this average is based are capped i.e. parents who have costs above the 135/200 limits are assumed to have costs of 135/200 exactly (uncapped figures are not currently available).

Child Care

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate the Government has made of how many registered child care places there were in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not readily available in the form requested. I will write to the hon. Member when the information is at hand and will place a copy in the Library. The figures will be available by mid-October.

Children Bill

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of implementation of the Children Bill to (a) central Government and (b) local government.

Margaret Hodge: The Government produced an updated Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Children Bill on introduction in the Commons. This includes information on costs. A copy has been placed in the Library. Many of the measures in the Bill are about better and more effective ways of working and, in themselves, will not have any significant additional cost implications. However the Government will increase investment in children's services by almost 1 billion by 200708 compared with 200405. This will be used to start taking forward the reforms set out in Every Child Matters.
	The Children's Commissioner is a new post. We will spend broadly 2.5 million a year on the Commissioner's Office (including on his functions). We estimate that this year the start up costs will be in the order of 100,000, including costs of recruiting.
	The provisions for an information database and, if the Government were to decide to introduce one, a registration scheme for private fostering will clearly have cost implications. The extent of the costs will depend on how they are implemented. We will produce separate impact assessments and costing for these to go with the affirmative resolution regulations that would put the detail of implementation into legislation

Class Sizes

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size was in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) England and (ii) the North Somerset Local Education Authority in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The requested information is given in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(3): classes taught by one teacher, position in January each year, 1997 to 2004
		
			  Average size of classes taught by one teacher(4) 
			  Primary Secondary(5) 
			  North Somerset LEA England North Somerset LEA England 
		
		
			 1997 27.8 27.5 20.4 21.7 
			 1998 28.4 27.7 21.7 21.7 
			 1999 28.5 27.4 21.7 21.9 
			 2000 28.3 27.1 22.2 22.0 
			 2001 27.7 26.7 22.1 22.0 
			 2002 27.5 26.3 22.3 21.9 
			 2003 27.8 26.3 22.2 21.9 
			 2004 27.6 26.2 22.2 21.8 
		
	
	(3) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(4) Classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
	(5) For secondary schools, excludes sixth form colleges.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census.

Criminal Records (Local Authority Staff)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what his policy is on local authorities employing (a) social workers and (b) others working with children who have criminal records;
	(2)  what guidance he has issued to social services departments regarding the employment of people after a Criminal Records Bureau check has revealed a conviction;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with Haringey Social Services Department about the employment of people with criminal records.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 14 September 2004
	The Secretary of State has not discussed the employment of people with criminal records with Haringey Social Services Department.
	It is for all employers to reach their own judgments about a person's suitability to work with children and other vulnerable people taking account of the legal requirements and all the information available including, where appropriate, information from the Criminal Records Bureau. Where an individual has been found guilty of an offence against a child, the court will consider whether, under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, the individual should be disqualified from working with children. Where an employer is notified that an individual has been disqualified by a court as a result of their conviction, the employer will be committing an offence if they employ the individual in a post working with children. Where any other conviction information is revealed, employers will naturally need to consider a number of issues including the nature and age of the conviction and its relevance to the post being applied for.

Dyslexia

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance is in place to facilitate provision for dyslexic schoolchildren and students; and if he will make a statement on the implications for this provision of the introduction of disability legislation.

Margaret Hodge: Guidance on identifying and assessing special educational needs, including specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, is given in the SEN Code of Practice, to which schools and local education authorities must have regard. A range of material for teachers on dyslexia and dyscalculia has also been produced as part of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies to help promote inclusion of pupils with specific learning difficulties. The guidance has been well received and other material is in preparation.
	The Department continues to work closely with both the British Dyslexia Association and the Dyslexia Institute to help raise awareness and develop new resources that will be of practical assistance to teachers and other staff. For example, we have supported the production and dissemination of a dyslexia friendly schools pack and a handy hints poster for primary schools.
	It is envisaged the provision of such materials and guidance will help schools meet their statutory duties under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 where pupils with dyslexia meet the DDA definition of having a disability.
	Bridging the gap: a guide to the Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) in higher education is a publication providing detailed information for students on DSA grants which are available to higher education students with a disability or a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia. The Department also has a dedicated webpage on our student support website for students with disabilities and learning difficulties. Further information is provided in our guide Financial Support for Higher Education Students, a copy of which is sent to every student applying for student support.
	The Department offers local education authorities strategic direction on policy and detailed guidance on the Statutory Instruments under which DSAs are paid.

Extended Schools Scheme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what new money is being allocated to extended school day programmes that are part of the extended schools scheme.

Margaret Hodge: The Government are committed to supporting the development of extended schools. We have already invested around 45 million in the current Spending Review period to support the development of extended services in schools which includes the development of before and after school child care, out of schools clubs, breakfast clubs and other similar programmes.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills' statement to the House on 16 September set out how the additional funding for education and children's services over the period 200506 to 200708 will support the reforms set out in our Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners. Extended schools are a key part of the strategy. However, as the strategy makes clear, we are committed to reducing the burdens on the front line, including reducing the number of different funding streams so to give local authorities, schools and other agencies more scope to use resources flexibly to meet local needs. It is not, therefore, possible at this stage to give a figure for the increased investment in extended schools.

Fathers Direct

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been given to Fathers Direct in each year since 1997 by his Department and its predecessors with responsibility for children.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 16 September 2004
	Records show that funding given to Fathers Direct since 1997 by the Department for Education and Skills and its predecessors with responsibility for children is as follows:
	Under the Family support grant
	50,000 in 19992000, 100,000 in 200001, 100,000 in 200102; 50,000 in 200203; 50,000 in 200304 and 50,000 in 200405 (25,000 given to date, 25,000 remaining to be paid)
	Under the Parenting Fund:
	117,000 in 200304 Under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968: an award of 60,000 over two years commencing in 200304 (30,000 given to date, 30,000 remaining to be paid)
	Under the Parental Involvement in Children's Education Grant
	19,000 in 200304, and 11,000 in 200405 (7,000 given to date, 4,000 remaining to be paid) All figures rounded to the nearest 1,000.
	The main activities of Fathers Direct include training, information and consultancy work for family services, prisons and schools on how to engage and work with fathers and advising Government on policy. Recent activity funded by DfES includes a project to provide information, skills and resources for supporting fathers' relationships with their children to those sectors that provide support to parents (funded under the Parenting Fund).

Foster Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many registered foster carers there were in each of the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, my Department is currently seeking to identify and resolve data collection difficulties so that we can work towards the collection of this information in future years.
	The number of children looked after at 31 March in foster placements for each of the last three years is shown in the table.
	
		Children looked after at 31 March in a foster placement, 20012003 1,2
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 38,3000 
			 2002 39,200 
			 2003 41,100 
		
	
	(6) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements.
	(7) All figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	Source:
	Children Looked After by Local Authorities, Year Ending 31 March 2003

Foster Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of foster carers required to satisfy current demand.

Margaret Hodge: At 31 March 2003 there were an estimated 41,100 children in foster placements in England, representing 68 per cent. of all looked after children. The Department itself does not collect information centrally about the number of foster carers. However, a recent survey of local authorities, carried out by the Fostering Network, indicated a shortage of around 8,200 foster carers in England, inevitably limiting the range of placements available to looked after children. Assisting local authorities to recruit and retain foster carers is a key priority for my Department and a number of national initiatives are already in place or planned to encourage greater numbers of people to become and remain foster carers.

Further and Higher Education

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much he plans to spend on (a) higher education and (b) further education in each of the three years covered by the recent Spending Review.

Kim Howells: On 16 September, the Secretary of State announced that total funding for the post-16 learning and skills sector, excluding Higher Education, will rise to 11 billion by 200708, and total funding for Higher Education will rise to almost 9.5 billion by 200708. We are doing further work in partnership with the funding councils on the details of our spending plans for Further and Higher Education. Details of the grant letters to the Learning and Skills Council and the Higher Education Funding Council for England will be published at the time of release.

Information and Communication Specialists

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many information and communication technology specialists are in full-time employment in the Department.

Charles Clarke: My Department employs 139 information and communication technology specialists.

Learning and Skills Council

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what process was followed for the appointment of the Chair of the Learning and Skills Council.

Ivan Lewis: Appointments to the Learning and Skills Council are made through fair and open competition, in accordance with guidance issued by Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Looked-After Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many looked-after children are in (a) foster care and (b) in children's homes outside the geographical area of the placing authority.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries,

Looked-After Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in England are looked after by local authorities.

Margaret Hodge: I refer the hon. Member to my response on 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 28W.

Modern Apprentices Scheme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the companies who received funds from the Learning and Skills Council for participating in the Modern Apprentices Scheme in each year for which figures are available, broken down by amounts received.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Modern Apprentices Scheme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent by the Learning and Skills Council promoting modern apprenticeships in each year for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

National Grid for Learning

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much National Grid for Learning funding has been granted to schools in Buckinghamshire in (a) 200203, (b) 200304 and (c) 200405.

Charles Clarke: I refer my hon. Friend to 'Funding for ICT in Schools in England' which is available in the House Library.

Plumbing

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many level 2 NVQs in plumbing have been achieved in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The numbers achieving a level 2 NVQ qualification in plumbing in the United Kingdom rose steadily from 1.9 thousand in 199798 to 4.4 thousand in 200203 (the latest year for which data are available). Numbers for each year are given in the following table:
	
		Achievement of NVQ level 2 qualifications in plumbing -- Thousand
		
			 Year(8) Number of awards 
		
		
			 199798 1.9 
			 199899 2.0 
			 19992000 2.5 
			 200001 3.3 
			 200102 3.5 
			 200203 4.4 
		
	
	(8) Awards made between 1 October and 30 September each year.
	Source:
	NISVQ

Pre-school Education

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of children had access to pre-school education in (a) St. Helens and (b) England, broken down by region, in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Provisional figures for 2004 show that all three and four-year-olds in England took up some form of early years education. 97 per cent. of these children received funding.
	The available sub-national information relates the number of free part-time nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-olds. The latest figures for the St. Helens local authority area and the Government Office regions for 2003 are shown in the table. Provisional figures for 2004 show that in England, there were 1,034,900 free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-olds (or 91 places per 100 children).
	
		Number of free nursery education places1, 2 taken up by 3 and 4-year-old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers in St. Helens local education authority area and by Government Office RegionPosition in January each year: England 19972003
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 England 790,300 813,500 819,500 868,600 924,700 992,800 1,024,000 
			 
			 North East 55,600 54,800 53,000 54,200 54,600 55,100 53,200 
			 North West 125,600 126,400 128,100 134,800 145,000 142,300 143,700 
			 Of which:
			 St. Helens 3,300 3,200 3,200 3,600 3,700 3,900 3,900 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 93,500 94,600 91,000 100,400 105,800 108,800 108,800 
			 East Midlands 65,000 67,200 67,700 71,400 76,300 80,800 84,500 
			 West Midlands 93,200 96,600 97,900 103,200 105,700 111,200 113,800 
			 East of England 73,700 78,300 79,300 80,200 84,200 101,400 108,800 
			 London 125,700 127,300 132,300 145,600 155,300 169,200 165,800 
			 Inner London 50,800 50,700 54,300 63,400 65,600 69,000 67,200 
			 Outer London 74,900 76,700 78,000 82,200 89,700 100,300 98,600 
			 South East 98,900 104,800 106,800 110,500 120,700 140,100 155,000 
			 South West 59,300 63,400 63,400 68,100 77,200 83,800 90,400 
		
	
	(9) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-old children.
	(10) A free nursery education place comprises five two-and-a-half-hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks. Children in maintained schools are counted as taking up one place.
	The latest provisional national figures on provision for three and four-year-olds were published in a Statistical Release Provision for children under five years of age in EnglandJanuary 2004 which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway. The Department is planning to publish final figures for 2004 in October.

Pupil Referral and Learning Support Units

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the (a) pupil referral units and (b) learning support units operating in Buckinghamshire; and how many (i) staff and (ii) places there are in each.

Stephen Twigg: The January 2004 school census recorded five registered Pupil Referral Units (PRU), Aylesbury Vale PRU, Aylesbury Vale Secondary Support Centre, The Oaks PRU, The Wycombe Grange PRU and Woodlands Primary Support Centre, with a combined total of 190 pupils on roll (78 being solely registered with a PRU and the remaining 112 being dual-registered with a mainstream school), with 24 full-time equivalent teachers. Buckinghamshire has four Learning Support Units (LSU), Kirkstart LSU at Buckingham School, the Topaz Unit at Quarrendon School, The Diamond Centre at The Grange School and a LSU at Highcrest School. The Department does not hold any data on staff or place numbers for LSUs.

Research Council Funding

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in what circumstances foreign students would be eligible for Research Council grants to permit them to continue their studies.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	Eligibility for Research Council studentship awards is set out in the Statutory Instrument 1997 No. 1972, The Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997. In accordance with European Directives, EU nationals residing outside the UK are entitled to the same support as UK residents for their tuition fees and this is provided for in the regulations. The Statutory Instrument permits the Research Councils (and a number of other bodies) to offer UK residents full support for postgraduate studies (university fees and maintenance award), while restricting the eligibility of residents of the EEA to a tuition fees only award; residents of third countries are not entitled to receive any support. Foreign students that are settled in the UK within the meaning of the Immigration Act, have refugee status, or have been granted leave to remain are treated as UK residents in respect of the Instrument.

Special Educational Needs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average time taken to produce a statement of special educational needs is.

Margaret Hodge: Statutory timescales for local education authorities to observe in making assessments and statements of special educational needs are set out in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice. Local education authorities are required to publish details of the percentage of draft statements they issue within the statutory 18-week timescale. There is also a statutory timescale of 26 weeks for local education authorities to produce final statements. Data are not collected or published on the percentage of final statements completed within this timescale.
	In 2002/03, on average local education authorities in England met the 18-week timescale for producing draft statements in 65 per cent. of cases. When account is taken of cases where the issuing of draft statements was held up by factors beyond the authorities' control, this figure rose to 87 per cent.

Special Educational Needs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many special needs status (a) primary and (b) secondary school children there were (i) in England and (ii) in the Buckingham constituency in (A) 200203 and (B) 200304.

Margaret Hodge: The requested information is given in the following table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(11)number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN), Position in January each year 2003 and 2004
		
			  Buckingham constituency England 
			  Primary Secondary Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 As at January 2003 
			 Number of pupils with statements of SEN 100 70 71,040 79,320 
			 Percentage of school population with statements of SEN(12) 1.2 1.5 1.6 2.4 
			 Number of SEN pupils without statements 770 500 685,100 430,080 
			 Percentage of school population with SEN (without statements(13)) 9.9 11.5 15.9 13.0 
			  
			 As at January 2004 
			 Number of pupils with statements of SEN 100 70 69,610 78,480 
			 Percentage of school population with statements of SEN(12) 1.2 1.5 1.6 2.4 
			 Number of SEN pupils without statements 700 440 685,700 450,120 
			 Percentage of school population with SEN(without statements(13)) 8.9 10.2 16.1 13.5 
		
	
	(11) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(12) Number of pupils with statements of SEN expressed as a percentage of total number of pupils in same school type.
	(13) Number of SEN pupils (without statements) expressed as a percentage of total number of pupils in same school type.
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Special Educational Needs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are on the roll at each (a) severe learning difficulties and (b) moderate learning difficulties special school in Essex.

Margaret Hodge: The available information is shown in the table.
	
		Special schools(14): Number of schools and number on roll by type of provisionJanuary 2004 (provisional), Essex local education authority
		
			   Of which: 
			  All special schools Approved to make provision for severe learning difficulties(15) Approved to make provision for moderate learning difficulties(15) 
		
		
			 Number of schools 22 11 13 
			 Number of pupils 1,888 1,041 1,377 
		
	
	(14) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools
	(15) Schools can be approved for more than one type of provision.
	Information on individual schools cannot be provided as it is the Department's policy not to publish figures about individual schools without their prior agreement.

Special Educational Needs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many moderate learning difficulty special schools there are in each local education authority.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Sure Start

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the performance indicators and outcomes set for Sure-Start (a) in England and (b) on the Isle of Wight in each year since the programme's establishment.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 16 September 2004
	The Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets for Sure Start since the Spending Review 2000 (SR2000) are set out as follows. No targets have been set centrally for the Isle of Wight.
	(a) SR2000 (covering the period from 2001 to 2004)
	PSA1Reduce the proportion of children aged 03 in the 500 Sure Start areas who are re-registered within the space of 12 months on the child protection register by 20 per cent. by 2004.
	PSA2Achieve by 2004 in the 500 Sure Start areas, a 10 per cent. reduction in mothers who smoke in pregnancy.
	PSA3Achieve by 2004 for children aged 03 in the 500 Sure Start areas, a reduction of five percentage points in the number of children with speech and language problems requiring specialist intervention by the age of four.
	PSA4Reduce the number of 03 year old children in Sure Start areas living in households where no one is working by 2004.
	(b) SR2002 (covering the period from 2003 to 2006)
	PSA1In fully operational programmes, achieve by 200506 a [x] 1 per cent increase in the proportion of babies and young children aged 05 with normal levels of personal, social and emotional development for their age.
	PSA2In fully operational programmes, achieve by 200506 a 6 percentage point reduction in the proportion of mothers who continue to smoke during pregnancy.
	PSA3In fully operational programmes, achieve by 200506 a [x] 1 per cent increase in the proportion of children having normal levels of communication, language and literacy at the end of the Foundation Stage and an increase in the proportion of young children with satisfactory speech and language development at age two years
	PSA4In fully operational programmes, to achieve by 200506 a 12 per cent. reduction in the proportion of young children (aged 04) living in households where no one is working.
	(c) SR 2004 (covering the period from 2005 to 2008)
	PSA1Improve children's communication, social and emotional development so that by 2008 50 per cent. of children reach a good level of development at the end of the Foundation Stage, and reduce inequalities between the level of development achieved by children in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged areas and the rest of England.
	PSA2As a contribution to reducing the proportion of children living in households where no one is working, by 2008:
	i. increase the stock of Ofsted-registered childcare by 10 per cent.;
	ii. increase the take up of formal childcare by lower income working families by 50 per cent.;
	iii. introduce, by April 2005, a successful light-touch child care approval scheme
	1 Actual target levels for SR2002 PSAs 1 and 3 will be set when fuller results from the Foundation Stage Profile are available.

Sure Start

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the Sure Start programmes in Buckinghamshire.

Margaret Hodge: There is one Sure Start programme in Buckinghamshire, Sure Start Wycombe. The programme was initially a Sure Start mini local programme and became a fully-fledged programme in June 2003. The programme covers three wards: North Oakridge, Central Castlefield and South Booker and provides Sure Start services to 825 children under four and their families in the catchment area.

Young People Green Paper

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he plans to publish the Green Paper on young people provisionally entitled Things to Do and Places to Go; what proposals are likely to be included; and who will be consulted.

Margaret Hodge: We intend to publish the Youth Green Paper in December. The paper will set out a new offer for young people covering things to do and places to go; personal advice and support, particularly for young people at risk of poor outcomes; support for parents and families; opportunities for volunteering and mentoring; and the chance for young people to have more of a say.
	In developing the paper, we are currently consulting other Government Departments and a wide range of key stakeholders including representatives from Local Government, schools, Connexions, the voluntary and community sectors, the private sector and young people and parents. In addition, the Green Paper will itself be a consultative document, on which we will be seeking comments from a very wide range of people.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Colombia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 18 May 2004, Official Report, column 872W, on Colombia, if he will list the two unofficial statistics on the number of internally displaced people in Colombia in the last three years assessed by his Department to be the most accurate; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I would like to apologise to the hon. Member for the late reply to his question.
	In my reply I alluded to the difficulty in establishing totally accurate statistics of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Colombia. In gauging the extent of the problem we compare figures provided by the Colombian Government with those provided by reputable Colombian NGOs, including Consultoria Para Los Derechos Humanos Y El Desplazamiento (CODHES) or Consultancy for Human Rights and Displacement in English. This comparison enables us to monitor trends in IDP figures, increasing or decreasing, and helps in our efforts to establish the reason for such changes. The CODHES figures for 2001 were 341,925 (Colombian Government figure is 327,606) and in 2002 were 412,553 (Colombian Government figure is 379,289). However it would not be reasonable to expect that either set of figures were 100 per cent. accurate.

Colombia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 18 May 2004, Official Report, column 872W, on Colombia, what steps (a) his Department took, (b) his Department initiated and (c) were taken by non-governmental organisations to assess the veracity of the Government statistics showing a marked decline in internally displaced people in Colombia in 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: In my reply I alluded to the difficulty in establishing totally accurate figures of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Colombia. To do so we compare figures of IDPs from different, respected sources and thereby try to gauge trends. We supplement the assessment of such data by our Embassy in Bogota seeking to establish the true picture through discussions with the Government of Colombia, NGOs, international organisations working in Colombia such as the UN, ICRC, the church and civil society. The respected Norwegian Refugee Council is one of these interlocutors. Embassy officials also travel around the country to assess the situation at first hand, although such travel can be restricted by security concerns. There is no guaranteed, comprehensive means of checking the accuracy of figures of IDPs. The marked decline in numbers of IDPs in 2003 referred to new displacements in that year.

Departmental Staff (Upper Age Limits)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which it is responsible (i) have a set retirement age which applies to all or most personnel and (ii) have a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case.

Douglas Alexander: In the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) all officers have a set retirement age of 60 years. However, if band A (clerical) officers wish to postpone their retirement they may do so up to 65 years and band B (junior management), band C (middle management) and band D (senior management) may do so up to 63 years.
	Members of the Diplomatic Service are recruited up to 52 years to allow time for training and tours of duty at home and abroad before retirement. Members of the FCO Home Civil Service cadre are recruited up to 57 years to allow time for a normal tour of duty in a home job before retirement.
	The FCO is not responsible for any agencies.

EU-Israel Association Agreement

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government will call for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement on the basis of the International Court of Justice ruling of 9 July.

Denis MacShane: No.

EU-US Trade

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the percentage change in EU trade with the US has been since 1 May.

Douglas Alexander: The value of trade in goods between the EU25 and the US rose by 10 per cent. between May and July 2004 compared to the same three months in 2003.
	Source:
	US Bureau of Economic Affairs, balance of payments September news release, exports and imports of goods by selected countries, not seasonally adjusted.

Human Rights (China)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese authorities with regard to observance of basic human rights in China.

Bill Rammell: I would like to apologise to my hon. Friend for the late reply to his question.
	Both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary raised our serious concerns about human rights issues in China during their respective meetings with the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and the Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on 10 May. I also recently raised the issue of human rights with Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui during my visit to China in July.
	In addition, I also raised our concerns with Chinese delegates at the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue, the latest round of which took place in London on 13 and 14 May. We raised a range of issues including freedom of expression, minority rights, freedom of religion, as well as concerns about torture and the use of the death penalty.

Iraq

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many child prisoners are held in Iraqi prisons under the control of Coalition forces.

Bill Rammell: The UK is not detaining any security internees under the age of 18.
	The US is the Detaining Power for 55 security internees under the age of 18. For updated information on US detainees visit www.iac-baghdad.org.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the feasibility of opening a consulate in Erbil, Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Her Majesty's Government are represented in northern Iraq by the office of the British embassy in Kirkuk. This decision was based on a number of factors, including security advice. Although there are no current plans to open a consulate in Erbil the consul general is already travelling extensively around northern Iraq and maintaining the excellent links we have developed in this area.
	I visited Kirkuk, Lake Dokan and Erbil on 5 October.

Iraqi Airways

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the coalition was consulted on the recent sale of 75 per cent. of Iraqi Airways to an Iraqi family; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 16 September 2004
	This is a matter for the Iraq Interim Government. However the Director of Iraqi Airways has confirmed that Iraqi Airways remains 100 per cent. in the control of the Ministry of Transport.

People Trafficking

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the key countries of origin and (b) the key countries of transit for the illegal trafficking of (i) children under the age of 14 and (ii) women.

Bill Rammell: We are committed to doing all we can to combat human trafficking. I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 15 September 2004, Official Report, columns 49095WH in an adjournment debate on the international trafficking of women which sets out the actions we are taking.
	Human trafficking is a global crime, involving many source and transit countries. Some countries are both source and transit countries. Traffickers are flexible and, as circumstances change, seek new markets and routes. In its Trafficking of Human Beingsa Europol PerspectiveJanuary 2004, Europol provides an overview of the issue. A copy of this report is available on Europol's website: www.europol.eu.int. Through our network of immigration liaison officers in Europe, we work closely with our European partners to combat human trafficking. The UK Threat Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2003 available on NCIS's website, www.ncis.co.uk, also gives details of the pattern of movement of illegal migrants.
	The nature of trafficking means that it is a hidden crime and there are no reliable figures about children under the age of 14 or women being trafficked into or out of Europe.

Royal Family (Overseas Visits)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty the Queen plans to visit (a) Singapore and (b) New Zealand within the next five years.

Chris Mullin: The forward programme of visits by Her Majesty the Queen for the next five years has not been finalised. For security reasons Royal Visits overseas are not generally announced until a few months before a visit takes place.

Sudan

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to submit a resolution to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to implement a comprehensive arms embargo on Sudan in addition to the measures established in UNSC resolution 1556.

Chris Mullin: The Security Council is currently discussing the Secretary-General's latest report on Darfur, and, as a member of the Security Council, the UK will consider in due course what, if any, further measures need to be taken against the Government of Sudan.
	The UK has strictly enforced an EU arms embargo on Sudan since it was imposed in 1994.

Terrorism

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in (a) breaking the global network of al-Qaeda and (b) the search for Osama Bin Laden.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave him on 16 July 2004, Official Report, column 1380W. We continuously assess the threat from al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda related terrorist cells, including their numbers and locations. But for reasons, which the hon. Member will understand, we do not publish these assessments. The Security and Intelligence Agencies are outside the scope of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Paragraph 6, Part I).
	The hunt for Osama Bin Laden continues. All coalition forces and indigenous police authorities are actively searching for his whereabouts.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Local Service Delivery

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he assesses the efficiency of service delivery in local offices.

Jane Kennedy: The Department's local office network is delivered through Jobcentre Plus. DWP has a Public Service Agreement (PSA) target to improve the delivery of services of each of its businesses, including Jobcentre Plus, by setting published annual targets addressing accuracy, unit costs and customer service. We also set Jobcentre Plus other targets covering key aspects of its businessjob outcomes, reducing losses through fraud and error, delivery of key business processes and employer outcomes. These targets are announced annually in Parliament and in Jobcentre Plus's business plan. Progress is monitored regularly and is published in the Department's Annual Report.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when ASW workers whose occupational pensions are in administration can expect to receive their first payment from the recently announced Financial Assistance Scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: By the spring of 2005 we intend to have the legislative framework in place with a view to being able to make the first payments as quickly as possible thereafter.
	Meanwhile we are continuing to work on the design of the Scheme in consultation with stakeholders. Until that work has been completed we cannot give any particular scheme's members' assurances that they will be covered.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Works and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 5 July 2004, Official Report, column 546, on pension protection, how much has been paid out under the pension assistance package of 30 June.

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the Government's Financial Assistance Scheme.

Chris Pond: The Financial Assistance Scheme will give support to those who face the most significant losses of their pension when their employer has become insolvent. Details of the Scheme's operation are being worked out as quickly as possible, in consultation with stakeholders. No payments have yet been made from the Scheme.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the pensions industry regarding the Financial Assistance Scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: Ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions have held many meetings with representatives from the pensions industry, including those that my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith), the former Secretary of State, had with Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Institute of Actuaries, the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF), the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Amicus the Union, and Community.

Disability Living Allowance

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of appeals against the disallowance of disability living allowance were successful in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

Maria Eagle: The numbers of disability living allowance appeals cleared at hearing for the periods requested are set out as follows.
	
		Disability living allowance appeals, received at the Appeals Service, cleared at hearing and in favour of appellant, for each calendar year 200103
		
			  Lodged Received Cleared at hearing Cleared in favour Percentage cleared in favour 
		
		
			 2001 86,440 87,245 86,280 45,165 52.3 
			 2002 82,490 82,630 72,815 39,495 54.2 
			 2003 87,340 83,665 69,865 36,850 52.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures are subject to change as more up-to-date data becomes available.
	2. Figures for the latest months may rise significantly as information feeds through to the Appeals Service.
	3. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	4. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
	5. Percentages are to one decimal place and are based on unrounded figures
	6. Figures include the results of all appeals. The figures for successful appeals against disallowance only are not available.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample

Minimum Income Guarantee

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of pensioners entitled to the minimum income guarantee were in receipt of it at the latest date for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: Last October minimum income guarantee was replaced by pension credit, a less intrusive, more generous entitlement. As at 31 August, over two million pensioner households were receiving the guarantee element, getting money to the poorest pensioners. This includes 260,000 more households that have been receiving financial assistance that they did not get under the minimum income guarantee.

Final Salary Pension Schemes

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the number of people participating in final salary pension schemes.

Malcolm Wicks: We estimate that in total there are around 22 million individual entitlements to benefits in UK defined benefit pension schemes. The number of people participating will be slightly lower than this, as individuals can be members of more than one scheme.

Benefit-Tax Credit Interaction

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the interaction of benefits and tax credits.

Chris Pond: We are determined to make work pay and to tackle the traps of unemployment and poverty; tax credits are at the heart of this strategy. Over 6 million hard working families are already benefiting from tax credits and over half of all children in the UK are benefiting from the increase in child tax credit.
	DWP and the Inland Revenue will keep working with local authorities to ensure that tax credits, housing benefit and council tax benefit work together and continue to make it easier than ever before to move into work.

School Crossing Patrol Officers

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend the higher level of earnings disregard to benefit claims from school crossing patrol officers.

Chris Pond: All aspects of benefit payment, including disregards, are kept under constant review in order to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of benefit and the best use of public funds.
	I want to pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his vigorous campaigning on this issue, but he knows that this is a complex matter with wider implications and I cannot promise that we will be able to act in the way that he would wish.

Pensions Commission

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the Pensions Commission to report.

Malcolm Wicks: The Pensions Commission has announced that it will publish its first report tomorrow. This will be a thorough analysis of the UK Pensions System. I welcome the work of this independent Commission which we established to keep under review the regime for UK private pensions and long-term savings. I look forward to its findings.

Incapacity Benefit

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Works and Pensions, if he will make a statement on incapacity benefit.

Maria Eagle: As we have already said, this Government are determined to do more to address the legacy of inactivity.
	Between 1979 and 1997 the number of people receiving Incapacity Benefit trebled and had that trend continued there would be around four million people now on Incapacity Benefit instead of 2.7 million.
	Almost all of those who move on to incapacity benefits want and expect to go back to work. Our reforms will give them the opportunity and full range of help needed to realise that goal.

Attendance Allowance

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what factors contribute to delays to the reinstatement of attendance allowance, where that allowance has been suspended following a stay in hospital.

Maria Eagle: A number of factors can contribute to delays to the reinstatement of attendance allowance where that allowance has been suspended following a stay in hospital. These can include the need to contact the customer or obtain medical evidence in order to determine the impact on benefit entitlement of any change in the customer's condition. In some cases there is a need to obtain information from other sources such as a hospital, local authority or residential care home. There will also be a need to liaise with other parts of the Department where payment of attendance allowance is combined with other Social Security benefits. Staff are advised that where there are other matters to consider, priority should be given to re-instating benefit prior to making any further inquiries wherever possible.

Benefit Calculation

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will disregard borough councillor allowances as income for the purposes of benefit calculation.

Chris Pond: The basic councillor allowance is payable to all councillors for the time they devote to their work and to cover costs for which no other specific payment is made. For those people in receipt of income related benefits, such as income support, income based jobseeker's allowance and pension credit, which are intended to help people whose resources are insufficient to meet their day-to-day living expenses; this is treated in the same way as other types of earnings and attracts the normal 5 or 20 earnings disregard. However, expenses are fully disregarded where the expenses were incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of the councillor's duties.
	For those in receipt of incapacity benefit, which is normally paid to people who are incapacitated by the effects of their illness or disability, there is an exception for local authority councillors. Incapacity benefit is not normally payable to people who work and receive an income, however, the special provision for councillors recognises the particular obligations placed on elected councillors by disregarding such work for the purposes of deciding entitlement to benefit. Account is taken of the amount of allowance payable but benefit is affected only if the allowance exceeds the prescribed limit of 78 in any week. In this event, benefit is reduced on a pound-for-pound basis by the amount that the allowance exceeds the limit.
	We have no plans to change the way in which these allowances are treated.

Bereaved Parents Allowance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against non-allowance of the bereaved parents allowance there have been in each of the last three years; and how many were successful.

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Christina Townsend to Mr David Drew, dated 6 October 2004
	The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your question regarding the number of appeals against non-allowance of the bereaved parents allowance there have been in each of the last three years; and how many were successful.
	The information is not available in the format you have requested as figures for all Widows/Bereavement benefits are recorded together. However, the information in table 1 gives details of all Widows/Bereavement benefit claims in payment. Table 2 gives details of all Widows/Bereavement benefit appeals received in each of the last three years and the number of those appeals that were successful.
	
		Table 1 thousands
		
			  In payment figures 
		
		
			 March 2002 36.8 
			 March 2003 44.4 
			 March 2004 46.4 
		
	
	Bereavement benefit note:
	Figures are in thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample.
	
		Table 2
		
			 Financial year Lodged Received Cleared at hearing Cleared in favour Cleared against Cleared upheld Cleared others 
		
		
			 April 2001March 2002 865 775 580 85 (16) 485 5 
			 April 2002March 2003 1,095 1,060 700 85 (16) 610 5 
			 April 2003March 2004 705 810 705 85 (16) 610 10 
		
	
	(16) Denotes data equal to nil or negligible.
	Appeals data notes:
	All figures are subject to change as more up to date data becomes available.
	Figures for the latest months may rise significantly as information feeds through to the Appeals Service.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	Figures may not sum due to founding.
	Please note that figures for the latest year may be approximately 5 per cent. overstated due to operational changes regarding the closure of Salford Regional Centre.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.

Exceptions Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Exceptions Service is expected to be set up for those who cannot be part of the Government's new pensions payments arrangements.

Chris Pond: Cheque payments (previously referred to as the Exceptions Service) will be phased in over the period from October 2004 to March 2005.

Exceptions Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints he has received from pensioners who have asked to use the Exceptions Service and have been referred to other options with regard to pensioner's payments.

Chris Pond: Independent research commissioned by DWP shows that there are very high levels of satisfaction among benefit and pensions customers who have transferred to direct payment and those who have started claiming and chose to receive direct payments. Overall 91 per cent. of customers were happy with the process of setting up direct payments (the figure for pensioners was 88 per cent.). Similarly, overall 93 per cent. of customers were happy with the process of having payments made into an account (the figure for pensioners was 92 per cent.).
	Direct payment is now the normal method of payment. The Department provides staff with the factual information they need to give to customers, in order for customers themselves to choose the account which best meets their needs and circumstances. The cheque payment is only intended for those customers who we cannot pay by direct payment; it is not an alternative payment option.
	We are continuing to contact existing customers to invite them to provide account details. Customers who advise the Department that they are unable to open or manage an account will be paid by cheque payment. We do not capture data concerning the number of complaints received from pensioners who have asked to use cheque payment and have been referred to other options.

Exceptions Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the figures, by constituency up to the last date for which figures are known, for (a) those who have been contacted about the new pensions payment arrangements, (b) those who have agreed to new arrangements of payment method, (c) those who have asked about the Exceptions Service and (d) those who have yet to reply.

Chris Pond: Information is not available in the constituency-based format requested. However as at 10 July 2004 for the Constituency of Stroud 19,600 (61.9 per cent.) of all benefit accounts were paid by direct payment into bank accounts, and 1,185 (3.7 per cent.), into Post Office card accounts.
	The move to direct payment is progressing well. 14.25 million customers are to be moved to direct payment, of which approximately 50 per cent. are over pension age. To date over 5.3 million pensioners have been contacted.
	Of the pensioners contacted nearly 4.4 million have responded by either supplying their bank details or requesting a Post Office card account.
	We do not capture data on the number of customers who have asked about cheque payments. The cheque payment is only intended for those customers who we cannot pay by direct payment; it is not an alternative payment option. Customers will not apply to be paid in this way.
	With regard to the pensions customers who have not yet respondedthere will always be a time lag between the total number of invitations issued and the number of people that have so far responded.
	Key figures on the progress of conversion to direct payment are available in the Library. These figures are updated every four weeks.

Housing Benefit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the 20 councils with the longest times for processing new housing benefit claims, identifying in each case the average time for processing claims.

Chris Pond: pursuant to his reply, 22 July 2004, Official Report, c. 441W
	The information is in the table.
	
		20 local authorities with the longest processing times for new claims for housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB)
		
			  Average time for processing new claims (calendar days) 
			 Local authority HB CTB HB and CTB 
		
		
			 Bury 75 97 87 
			 Bristol 87 90 88 
			 North Ayrshire 79 97 88 
			 Dundee 88 90 89 
			 Flintshire 89 89 89 
			 York 78 108 91 
			 Croydon 83 105 95 
			 East Devon 95 96 96 
			 Mid Suffolk 92 98 96 
			 South Northamptonshire 100 95 97 
			 Torridge 99 96 97 
			 Chelmsford 95 108 101 
			 Lambeth 90 122 104 
			 Renfrewshire 92 115 104 
			 Portsmouth 103 112 107 
			 Leicester 106 122 114 
			 Manchester 137 89 115 
			 Merthyr Tydfil   118 
			 Hackney 114 134 123 
			 Liverpool 183 152 167 
			 Swale 182 203 193 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Four local authorities did not supply data for 200304.
	2. It is not possible to differentiate the housing benefit/council tax benefit data from Merthyr Tydfil.
	3. The data are taken from un-audited returns by local authorities to DWP, and are the most recent quarterly data they have returned for 200304.

Industrial Injuries Benefits

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed industrial injuries disablement benefit for occupational asthma in (a) the UK and (b) England in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the table.
	
		Number of claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit for occupational asthma in the United Kingdom and England(17)
		
			  United Kingdom England 
		
		
			 1999 1,000 700 
			 2000 900 700 
			 2001 800 700 
			 2002 (March quarter) 200 200 
			 2002 (April to December) 535 425 
			 2003(18) 685 525 
		
	
	(17) Claims are based on a 10 per cent. sample up to March 2002, 100 per cent. count thereafter. 10 per cent. figures are rounded to the nearest 100, and 100 per cent. figures to the nearest five to ensure anonymity.
	(18) Provisional data.
	Source:
	IAD, DSU1, Longbenton, Newcastle.

Jobcentre Plus

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many redundancies he expects from the closure of Jobcentre Plus, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations his Department has received on the closure of Jobcentre Plus, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what plans there are to deploy those affected by the closure of Jobcentre Plus, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea to other areas within his Department; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what factors underlay the decision to close Jobcentre Plus, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. David Amess, dated 11 October 2004
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions regarding the announcements made on the closure of the Victoria Avenue Jobcentre Plus site in Southend-on-Sea. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	It is too early to say whether there will be any redundancies arising from this closure. The Department's aim is to redeploy as many staff as possible into other jobs within Jobcentre Plus, particularly in Great Oaks House, Basildon, which will be requiring additional benefit processing staff and is within daily travelling distance from Southend. We will also be looking at redeployment opportunities in other parts of this and other Government departments. Following this redeployment exercise we will have a clearer picture of whether redundancies might be necessary, and the numbers affected.
	The District Manager for Essex has written to our partners and external stakeholders to inform them of the announcement. No representations have been made so far concerning the closure of the Victoria Avenue site.
	In deciding to close Victoria House, a number of factors were taken into account, including how best to use the space available to us, and the staff expertise available to do the work. For benefit processing centres, we are looking at sites capable of accommodating 250 to 600 staff, and Victoria House is not large enough for this. Furthermore, under our contract with our estate partner Land Securities Trillium, Victoria House can be released more quickly and thus more cheaply.
	I am happy to assure you that the face to face customer service to the people of Southend will be maintained in our Jobcentre Plus outlet at Dencora Court, Southend.
	Should you wish to meet with the District Manager for Essex to discuss this further he can be contacted at the Essex District Office in Chelmsford on 01245 545122.

Jobcentre Plus

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what Welsh language services are provided by Jobcentre Plus Direct.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Hywel Williams, dated 11 October 2004
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning what Welsh language services are provided by Jobcentre Plus Direct. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	Jobcentre Plus Direct is the contact centre network for Jobcentre Plus customers who either wish to make a benefit claim or want to use our job brokering serviceJobseeker Direct.
	In answer to your specific question, Jobcentre Plus Direct offers a dedicated telephone number to Welsh language speakers for both making claims to benefit and seeking help through Jobseeker Direct.
	I hope this reply to your question is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to safeguard Jobcentre Plus services delivered through the medium of Welsh during the closure and centralisation programme in Wales.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Hywel Williams, dated 11 October 2004
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning the delivery of Jobcentre Plus services through the medium of Welsh. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	As you may be aware, Jobcentre Plus is modernising the way in which it delivers its business. We are creating a modernised service in refurbished buildings and these enhancements are dramatically changing the way we help people of working age, giving a real work focus for customers claiming benefit.
	We are establishing a Contact Centre in North West Wales which will provide a Welsh Language service to our customers who contact us by telephone or through other electronic channels. For those who wish, or need, to undertake their business with us on a face-to-face basis, we will have a network of offices and flexible delivery sites throughout Wales that will continue to ensure that Welsh speaking advisers will be available.
	Jobcentre Plus has made a commitment, as outlined in its Annex to the Department's Welsh Language Scheme, that the English and Welsh Languages will be treated on a basis of equality. This commitment was underlined by the Department for Work and Pensions' Permanent Secretary, Sir Richard Mottram, who attended the launch of the Department's Scheme with the Welsh Language Board at this year's National Eisteddfod.
	Jobcentre Plus will continue its longstanding commitment to encourage and support members of staff wishing to learn Welsh or improve their ability to speak Welsh in the workplace. Staff dealing with claims to benefit and those conducting advisory interviews are being offered Welsh Language training to enable them to deal with customers in the language of their choice.
	I can assure you, therefore, that Jobcentre Plus is taking all the necessary steps it can to safeguard the services it provides to its customers through the medium of Welsh.
	I hope that this is helpful in clarifying the position.

Pension Credit

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's latest estimate is of (a) the number of pensioners, (b) the number entitled to pension credit and (b) the number taking up pension credit in Leeds, West.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of people in receipt of state pension in Leeds, West was 14,500 (rounded to the nearest 100) on 30 September 2003, the latest date for which a figure is available. Information on the number of people likely to be eligible for pension credit is not available at constituency level. However, we estimate that approximately 400,000 households in the Yorkshire and Humberside region, corresponding to approximately 500,000 individuals (rounded to the nearest 50,000), are likely to be eligible for pension credit in 200405. Information on the number of pension credit recipients in Yorkshire and Humberside and Leeds, West is given in the table.
	
		Pension credit recipients, 31 August 2004
		
			  Households Individuals 
		
		
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 251,830 308,495 
			 Leeds, West 4,435 5,275 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60.

Pension Credit

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the provision of mortgage assistance under pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: Currently customers have their benefit entitlement in respect of housing costs calculated using a standard interest rate. This is based on the average rates charged by the top 23 building societies and is currently 5.88 per cent.
	We hope to lay legislation later this year that will revise the scheme for customers in receipt of pension credit, income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance. The revised legislation will replace the standard interest rate with a standard tracker rate that will use the Bank of England base rate as a baseline and abolish the current 5 per cent. de minimus rule.

Pension Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of (a) pensions and (b) pensioner households eligible for the pension credit, broken down by (i) guarantee credit and (ii) savings credit for (A) each year up to 2014 and (B) appropriate intervals up to 2034.

Malcolm Wicks: Estimates of future Pension Credit eligibility are not available as policy in relation to the structure and uprating of Pension Credit has only been determined up to the end of the current Parliament. Projections of eligibility consistent with the Spending Review expenditure plans, up to 2007/08, are shown in tables 1 and 2 below. These are on the assumption that current policies are maintained for 2006/07 and 2007/08, but this should not be taken to imply that a decision on future levels of payment has been taken. Forecasts will be updated following any further decisions on rates of payment.
	
		Table 1: Projection of pensioners eligible for Pension Credit (individuals)
		
			 Year Guarantee element only Guarantee element and savings element Savings element only Pension Credit 
		
		
			 200405 1,250,000 1,700,000 1,700,000 4,650,000 
			 200506 1,150,000 1,850,000 1,800,000 4,800,000 
			 200607 1,150,000 1,900,000 1,850,000 4,900,000 
			 200708 1,150,000 1,950,000 2,050,000 5,150,000 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Projection of pensioners eligible for Pension Credit (households)
		
			 Year Guarantee element only Guarantee element and savings element Savings element only Pension Credit 
		
		
			 200405 950,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 3,550,000 
			 200506 850,000 1,500,000 1,250,000 3,650,000 
			 200607 850,000 1,550,000 1,350,000 3,750,000 
			 200708 850,000 1,600,000 1,450,000 3,900,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Projections with this breakdown are only available for private households. In addition to pensioners in private households, there are approximately 200,000 pensioners in care homes eligible for Pension Credit. The figures in Tables 1 and 2 above do not include pensioners in care homes.
	2. Estimates for private households and individuals in 200405 are based on the Family Resources Survey data for 200203 projected forward to 200405 to reflect changes in taxes, benefit rates and pensioners' incomes.
	3. For projections beyond 200405 it has been assumed that pensioners' incomes will rise in line with average earnings; the guarantee credit will be uprated in line with average earnings; and the savings credit threshold will be uprated in line with prices.
	4. The numbers entitled under these assumptions have then been scaled up to reflect growth in the pensioner population, using projections from the Government Actuary's Department.
	5. Projections have been rounded to the nearest 50,000 cases, are subject to a wide margin of error and should be used as broad indications of the likely eligible population only.
	6. A pensioner household is defined as single persons aged 60 or over and couples where at least one partner is aged 60 or over. Individuals are single pensioners with eligibility and both partners in a couple with eligibility.
	7. Rows might not sum exactly due to rounding.

Pension Payments

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people suffered late payment of pensions in each of the last 12 (a) weeks and (b) months; what procedures are in place to resolve such delays; and what the average length of time taken to resolve these problems is.

Chris Pond: Information is not available in the format required. There are a variety of reasons why payments may be delayed but customers who cannot access their funds, and are in hardship, can approach The Pension Service for an emergency payment.

Pension Payments

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether UK state pensions paid to British citizens living in dependent territories, formerly domiciled in the UK, are increased in line with pensions in the UK;
	(2)  if he will list those countries where UK citizens living in retirement can obtain the UK state pension; and in which countries the pension is frozen at the figure when the citizen left the UK to live abroad;
	(3)  if he will introduce measures so that British citizens living in dependent territories and formerly domiciled in the UK can have their state retirement pension increased in line with pensions in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK state pension is payable in all countries abroad to those who are entitled to it but is only uprated for UK pensioners living overseas where there is a legal requirement or reciprocal social security agreement to do so.
	It is uprated in countries within the European Economic Area 1 including Gibraltar 2 under the provisions of the EC Social Security legislation and the following countries with which the UK has reciprocal agreements: Barbados, Bermuda 2 , the Channel Islands, Israel, Jamaica, Malta, Mauritius, the Philippines, Switzerland, Turkey, the USA and the now separate republics of the former Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia (the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro); Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). The state pension is not uprated in any other country and we have no plans to do so.
	Notes:
	1 This includes Cyprus. Although the British sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are British dependent territories and not part of the Republic of Cyprus, article 4(2) of the reciprocal agreement with Cyprus provides that if a person would be entitled to a UK state pension, it shall be payable to them while they are in Cyprus, including the sovereign base areas, as if they were in the UK.
	2 British dependent territory.

Pensions Bill

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made on the consultation on Clauses 35, 36, 39 and 40 of the Pensions Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Over the summer officials met with a wide cross-section of pensions industry and other representatives. They also received and reviewed a large number of written comments.
	My noble Friend, the Baroness Hollis has said that she will be sharing a report detailing the consultation process and its findings with the members of the Grand Committee. This is expected in the next two weeks.

Post Office Card Accounts

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2004, Official Report, column 604W, on direct payment, how many (a) Post Office card accounts and (b) bank or building society accounts have been requested for (i) state pension and pension credit and (ii) Jobcentre Plus payments; and if he will break down the number of accounts receiving payments (A) of state pension and pension credit and (B) payments from Jobcentre Plus by region.

Chris Pond: holding answer 22 March 2004
	The information is not available in the format requested.
	As at 15 August the total number of Post Office card accounts requested since 1 April 2003 was 3,255,010. (Source: Post Office Ltd. data). This figure includes customers in DWP, Social Security Agency Northern Ireland, the Veterans Agency and the Inland Revenue. These figures include persons who have claimed benefit and persons waiting for their current order book to expire before migrating to direct payment. Accounts are not designated to the particular Departments or agencies who pay into the Post Office card account.
	A breakdown of accounts into specific agencies or Departments is not available. A customer is only allowed one Post Office card account into which several benefits can be paid.
	We do not have figures for the number of applications to open bank and building society accounts. This information is confidential between the customer and their bank or building society.
	The information provided in my earlier answer of 27 February 2004, Official Report, column 604W, was from data available as at 24 January 2004. We are unable to break this total down by region because there is a problem with the geographical allocations on the 24 January 2004 dataset. The latest date for which information relating to my Department is currently available, by region, into Post Office card accounts is 23 July 2004 and is shown in the following tables together with payments into bank or building society accounts.
	The number of live benefit accounts into Post Office(r) card accounts, broken down by Government office region:
	
		
			  North East North West Yorkshire and Humberside East Midlands West Midlands East of England London 
		
		
			 Jobcentre Plus   
			 Bereavement Benefit (BB) 45 110 90 60 80 50 65 
			 Incapacity Benefit (IB) 10,500 15,510 12,060 8,015 12,090 5,465 6,670 
			 Industrial Injuries (II) 8,295 7,090 6,010 5,145 5,110 1,250 1,335 
			 Income Support (IS) 14,940 29,470 20,295 13,145 21,295 10,965 28,170 
			 Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) 1,465 4,015 2,605 1,755 5,595 1,945 14,130 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) 490 950 860 710 830 525 405 
			 Widows Benefit (WB) 645 1,115 1,015 695 1,010 585 580 
			 
			 Pensioners
			 Pension Credit (PC) 29,160 50,615 39,255 25,975 42,305 26,780 28,200 
			 State Pension (RP) 17,205 35,870 27,715 22,735 27,390 20,170 11,265 
			 Total 82,750 144,755 109,900 78,230 115,700 67,745 90,820 
		
	
	
		
			  South East South West Wales Scotland Benefit total 
		
		
			 Jobcentre Plus  
			 Bereavement Benefit (BB) 70 50 25 90 740 
			 Incapacity Benefit (IB) 5,810 6,400 9,150 14,855 106,530 
			 Industrial Injuries (II) 3,335 2,835 4,930 5,400 50,730 
			 Income Support (IS) 13,405 11,450 11,965 24,030 199,135 
			 Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) 1,815 1,145 1,980 3,440 39,890 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) 605 620 505 805 7,310 
			 Widows Benefit (WB) 735 605 315 1,045 8,350 
			   
			 Pensioners  
			 Pension Credit (PC) 28,865 25,390 27,700 39,845 364,090 
			 State Pension (RP) 21,965 24,265 22,280 21,940 252,805 
			 Total 76,610 72,765 78,850 111,450 1,029,575 
		
	
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.
	The number of live benefit accounts into bank or building society accounts, broken down by Government office region:
	
		
			  Public Trust North East North West Yorkshire and Humberside East Midlands West Midlands East of England 
		
		
			 Jobcentre Plus   
			 Bereavement Benefit (BB) 0 1,755 4,705 3,295 2,895 3,660 3,700 
			 Incapacity Benefit (IB) 25 51,235 114,640 73,520 59,540 73,905 55,190 
			 Industrial Injuries (II) 0 22,295 29,360 23,425 22,045 20,065 10,835 
			 Income Support (IS) 0 42,960 120,495 77,555 60,245 85,605 71,545 
			 Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) 0 19,385 45,150 32,625 24,955 47,905 31,130 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) 40 3,065 7,785 5,480 5,045 5,540 5,750 
			 Widows Benefit (WB) 0 4,145 11,000 7,815 7,180 9,160 9,400 
			 
			 Pensioners
			 Pension Credit (PC) 0 60,265 148,425 107,095 86,660 115,140 110,040 
			 State Pension (RP) 20 196,760 598,700 434,810 400,810 482,150 611,750 
			 Total 65 401,870 1,080,260 765,625 669,370 843,130 909,340 
		
	
	
		
			  London South East South West Wales Scotland Benefit total 
		
		
			 Jobcentre Plus  
			 Bereavement Benefit (BB) 3,325 5,335 3,350 1,820 4,000 37,845 
			 Incapacity Benefit (IB) 61,195 68,810 56,260 59,585 85,295 759,200 
			 Industrial Injuries (II) 9,520 19,395 15,020 12,980 20,995 205,935 
			 Income Support (IS) 173,815 99,215 65,000 47,575 92,890 936,905 
			 Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) 94,545 37,920 20,735 19,185 46,350 419,885 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) 5,120 8,020 5,535 3,355 6,290 61,020 
			 Widows Benefit (WB) 11,455 14,020 8,065 3,780 9,575 95,595 
			 Pensioners   
			 Pension Credit (PC) 127,645 146,370 109,450 60,720 111,275 1,183,085 
			 State Pension (RP) 555,425 950,605 606,730 242,845 455,160 5,535,765 
			 Total 1,042,040 1,349,690 890,145 451,845 831,830 9,235,230 
		
	
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.

Post Office Card Accounts

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of successful applicants for the pension credit have elected to receive payments to Post Office Card Accounts to date.

Chris Pond: The information is not available in the precise form requested. However, at 31 July the number of live Pension Credit accounts was 2,581,813, of which 364,090 or 14.1 per cent. were paid to a Post Office card account. Of the total, 941,715 were not previously receiving Minimum Income Guarantee. Of these cases, 66,780, or 7.1 per cent. were being paid to a Post Office card account.

School Crossing Patrol Officers

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend the higher level of earnings disregard to benefit claims from school crossing partol officers.

Chris Pond: This is a complex matter with wider implications, however all aspects of benefit payment, including disregards, are kept under constant review in order to ensure the far and equitable distribution of benefit and the best use of public funds.

State Second Pension

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate how many employees (a) contracted out of and (b) contracted into the second state pension in 200304, broken down by sex and age; and what information he gives older workers on contracting into the state second pension.

Malcolm Wicks: pursuant to his reply, 7 July 2004, Official Report, c. 764W
	The Department for Work and Pensions does not specifically provide information to older workers on contracting back into the State Second Pension. It does however publish information leaflets that contain guidance on both State and private pension provision. This guidance stresses how important it is that people regularly review their pension arrangements including decisions about whether to contract in or out, to make sure that they have the income that they need when they retire; and that they should consider taking independent advice if they feel it necessary to do so.
	Estimates on the number of employees contracted out of and contracted into the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) in 200001 (the latest year for which the information is available) broken down by age and gender, are in the following table.
	
		Thousand
		
			  Number contracted out Number with SERPS membership 
			 Age group Men Women Men Women 
		
		
			 Under 20 50 38 467 372 
			 2029 1,121 1,084 1,563 1,302 
			 3039 3,069 2,529 901 825 
			 4049 2,364 1,724 678 900 
			 5059 1,330 872 851 742 
			 60 and over 151  247  
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample of the Lifetime Labour Market Database2 and are shown to the nearest thousand.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions' Data Services Unit.

State Second Pension

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Northampton are in receipt of the state second pension.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available. Such information as is available is provided in the table.
	
		People in receipt of additional State Pension by parliamentary constituency in Northamptonshire as at 30 September 2003.
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Pensioners (thousand) 
		
		
			 Corby 11.1 
			 Daventry 11.9 
			 Kettering North 12.6 
			 Northampton North 10.7 
			 Northampton South 12.2 
			 Wellingborough 13.4 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures are in thousands and have been rounded to the nearest hundred
	2. State Second Pension was introduced in April 2002. The first people to receive it would be those reaching state pension age after April 2003.
	3. The figures include pensioners who are now in receipt of State Earnings Related Pension (SERPs), or SERPS and State Second Pension, or State Second Pension alone.
	Source:
	DWP IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample of administrative data.

Winter Fuel Payments

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the way in which the winter fuel payments scheme is publicised to men aged between 60 and 64 years; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: There are currently no plans to change the way in which winter fuel payments are publicised to men aged 6064.
	We regularly carry out research to gauge awareness and knowledge of winter fuel payments, including awareness of the scheme among those aged 6064, as part of the routine evaluation of the publicity campaign to inform people about winter fuel payment for each winter. Lessons learned from this evaluation are taken forward to refine future publicity activity.

Women's Pension Provision

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of women's pension provision; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government recognise that the majority of pensioners are women and are committed to ensuring that pension reforms improve the position of women in retirement.
	There are around 6.5 million women in Great Britain in receipt of a UK basic state pensionalmost two-thirds of all recipients. Around half of these receive the full-rate basic state pension, compared to around 90 per cent. of men. The average amount of state retirement pension for women in Great Britain is 71.81, compared to 100.27 for men. 1
	Including income from private sources, the average gross weekly income for single female pensioners in 200203 was 197, compared to 221 for single male pensioners. Benefit income (including the state retirement pension, income-related benefits and disability related-benefits) made up almost two thirds of the gross incomes of single female pensioners in 200203, compared to a little over half of the gross incomes of single male pensioners. 2
	We have already introduced a range of policies that directly benefit women in four key areas:
	helping women into employment through new deal, tax credits and a commitment to additional resources for child care so they can save and plan for their future;
	helping lower paid women to save for their pensions through the state second pension and stakeholder pensions;
	helping existing pensioners through pension credit, improvements to the basic state pension and pensions sharing on divorce;
	we are committed to improving pension information for everyone to ensure that they are aware of their pension position and their choices.
	We will help those in short stay jobs build up pension rights by enabling people to take a cash equivalent transfer value of their pension rights to another scheme. This is particularly important for women who have more varied employment patterns.
	Around 20 million people will gain from the state second pension, including 2.5 million carersalmost all of whom are womenand 5 million low earnersaround 70 per cent. of whom are women.
	As my hon. Friend may know, we have announced our intention to produce a report on the subject of women and pensions by the end of the 2005 calendar year. This will provide detailed analysis of pension provision for women. The DWP has commissioned a large-scale qualitative survey that will investigate the factors that affect women's individual savings decisions within the household, and the results will be published and made publicly available.
	1 Source:
	September 2003 administrative data.
	Notes:
	State Retirement Pension includes the basic state pension as well as the earnings-related component from SERPS or its predecessor (Graduated Retirement Benefit). There are also other components, for example increases for dependent spouses and children.
	2 Source:
	Pensioners' Incomes Series 200203.

PRIME MINISTER

Butler Report

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister when he will fulfil the undertaking he gave in the House on 20 July 2004, Official Report, column 204, to write to the hon. Member for New Forest, East stating (a) the reason for the lack of substantive mention of GCHQ in the Butler Report, (b) whether signals intelligence relevant to the Iraq crisis was received and (c) why such intelligence was not included in the report.

Tony Blair: I have written to the hon. Gentleman. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Butler Report

Robert Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) of 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 285W, on Iraq, on what date and at which stage during the Butler Report he was informed of the withdrawal of the Iraq Intelligence Reports to which paragraph 405 of Lord Butler's Report refers.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my answer to the hon. Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) on 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 285W.

Civil Service (Job Losses)

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister which services within his Office will be (a) affected by and (b) subject to job losses consequent on the cuts in the civil service announced in the Spending Review.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Boateng) on 16 September 2004, Official Report, column 1659W.

Departmental Recycling

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister what the latest available 12 month figures are for the proportion of his Office's redundant documentation, waste paper and card that is recycled; and if he will make a statement on his Office's recycling policy.

Tony Blair: My office is serviced as part of the wider Cabinet Office estate. I have therefore asked my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to reply and a copy of her letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Food Miles

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 15 September 2004, Official Report, column 1266, to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight, if he will make a further statement on the Government's (a) policy on and (b) progress with reducing food miles.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 23 September 2004. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Government Departments

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister for what reason the work of his Department has been divided between the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office and a separate Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Tony Blair: Similar structures have existed previously in the Cabinet Office. I believe they best meet the needs of this Government.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  when he was informed that British officers Colonel Terrington and Colonel Campbell-James had been embedded within the military intelligence division of the US Combined Joint Task Force 7;
	(2)  what information he has been given about the work of the British Colonels Terrington and Campbell-James within the intelligence division of US Combined Joint Task Force 7.

Tony Blair: There are a number of United Kingdom military officers embedded within the United States military in Iraq. I would not expect to receive information on particular individuals or their deployment.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will instruct the Attorney-General to evaluate the statement made by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 15 September that the invasion of Iraq was illegal and contrary to the Charter of the United Nations.

Tony Blair: The Attorney-General has made his view clear on this matter. I refer my hon. Friend to the Solicitor-General's answer of 17 March 2003, Official Report, columns 515516W, which set out the Attorney-General's view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq. I also refer my hon. Friend to the press notice issued by the Attorney-General's office on 14 July 2004.

Ministerial Residences

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister how much has been spent on ministerial residences and the residences within them in each year since 1 May 1997; and how much in each case for each year of the sums spent was spent on (a) kitchens, (b) bathrooms, (c) vehicle-related facilities and (d) leisure facilities.

Tony Blair: Expenditure on routine maintenance and other building works in residences occupied by Ministers is the responsibility of each Minister's Department.
	For details of expenditure on work to the flat above No. 11 Downing street I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2002, Official Report, column 144344W. Expenditure for subsequent years is as follows.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200102 32,945 
			 200203 32,707 
			 200304 21,094 
		
	
	In addition, I also have the use of Chequers which is administered by independent trustees.

Ministerial Residences

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost to public funds has been in each year since 1 May 1997 in respect of (a) entertainment and (b) staff costs for (i) Chequers and (ii) Chevening.

Tony Blair: On entertainment costs I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 970W.
	Additional figures for entertainment at Chequers are:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200001 3,855 
			 200102 5,014 
			 200203 2,551 
		
	
	On staff costs I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey) on 13 February 2003, Official Report, column 952W.
	Additional figures for the grant issued to Chequers are:
	200203: 499,817.
	Responsibility for Chevening is a matter for the Foreign Office.

Northern Ireland

Roy Beggs: To ask the Prime Minister what actions he will require of Sinn Fein/IRA for them to rejoin a devolved administration.

Tony Blair: At the conclusion of the Leeds Castle talks, my statement made clear that the Taoiseach and I believe we can resolve the issues to do with ending paramilitary activity and putting weapons beyond use. We are clear that there must be a complete end to violence in all its forms. There must also be a genuine, lasting and stable commitment to power-sharing.

Official Travel (Carbon Dioxide Emissions)

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to offset the carbon dioxide emissions from the use of (a) aircraft and (b) motor cars in carrying out his official business.

Tony Blair: I travel making use of the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements. My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, Travel by Ministers.

Overseas Hospitality (Charitable Donations)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the charitable donations he has made when provided with hospitality overseas since 1997.

Tony Blair: The information requested is available in the Register of Members' Interests.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will name individuals other than officials who have helped draft parliamentary answers for him in the past year.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 10 July 2002, Official Report, columns 98889W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Civil Service (Job Losses)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which services within his Department will be (a) affected by and (b) subject to job losses consequent on the cuts in the civil service announced in the Spending Review.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 16 September 2004, Official Report, column 1659W.

East Timor

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Government are giving to East Timor; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Since 1999 the UK has committed over 30 million to East Timor. Between 2002 and 2005 DFID will contribute 12 million to help implement East Timor's National Development Plan. This will be channelled through a World Bank managed Trust Fund. A further 1.3 million is being provided over the same period, through Oxfam, to support community education. Britain has also contributed some 19 per cent. of European Commission development expenditure in East Timor. Between 1999 and 2002 (the last year for which figures are available) this is estimated to have been some 14 million.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of (a) the advantages and (b) the disadvantages of genetically-modified crops to developing countries.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID's approach to GM crops and developing countries is based on the principle that the health of people and the environment is of primary concern. GM technologies have the potential to provide significant benefits for poor farmers. For example, the potential for increased yields in developing countries from the use of GM technology far exceeds the potential in European and North American conventional agriculture, where yields have been high for many years. GM technology could also improve the nutritional quality of staple foodstuffs.
	A report published by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics contains a number of case studies detailing the actual and potential benefits of GM crops for developing countries. The report offers a constructive contribution to the on-going debate on genetic modification technologies. The Government share the report's conclusions that achieving food security and reducing poverty in developing countries are complex issues, that GM crops are unlikely to feed the world but that in some circumstances they could make a useful contribution to improving the livelihoods of poor people in developing countries.
	Recognising that there are both potential benefits and risks associated with GM crops, DFID believes that developing countries need to be able to make their own informed choices about whether to adopt GM technologies or not. The UK Government have pushed for the implementation of international legislation such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which provides for rigorous assessment and management of the risks involved in the use of Genetically Modified Organisms. The UK has ratified this Protocol.

Hurricane Ivan

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many Cayman Island citizens are estimated to have been (a) killed and (b) made homeless as a direct consequence of Hurricane Ivan.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: One Cayman Islands citizen is missing, presumed dead from the impact of Hurricane Ivan and one Caribbean resident was badly injured and subsequently died. The Cayman Islands Government estimate that 860 have been made homeless. Up to 20 per cent. of residential houses have been reportedly completely destroyed and some 20 per cent. have major damage and 5 per cent. are partially damaged.
	Following the impact of the hurricane, HMS Richmond and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Ruler began helping the relief effort at the earliest opportunity. They were also able to provide medical staff and deliver medicines. DFID also responded to an urgent request from the Government of the Cayman Islands by providing urgent relief items, including plastic sheeting and have since sent flights containing potable water, hygiene materials and other requested items. The cost of this direct assistance is about 172,000. DFID has also contributed 500,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross regional appeal, for the provision of emergency food, shelter needs, water and sanitation and various non-food items. The Regional Appeal includes support to 1,000 affected families in Cayman Islands for six months.
	The British Government are also contributing around 55,000 for the deployment of the Bermuda Regiment for one month to assist in clear up operations and other support.

India (Public Services)

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which consultants have been retained by his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to provide the Government of India with advice on the delivery of public services for each of the last five financial years; what the value of each contract was; and what the nature of the contractors' briefs was.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The number and value of contracts let respectively are:
	Between April 1999 and March 2004 DFID's procurement group in East Kilbride issued 191 contracts with a total value of 97,593,493. Between January 2000 and August 2004, DFID India's contracts and procurement advice section issued 1,009 contracts with a total value of 17,823,348. This section was set up in 1999 and no details are available before January 2000. Total spending on bilateral assistance to India in the five years from 1999 to 2003 amounted to 762,875,778.
	It is not practical to provide briefs for this number of contracts, as this would incur a disproportionate cost. I have arranged for the documents entitled Procurement Group Programme Contracts April 1999-March 2004 and Summary of Contracts issued by DFID India to be placed in the Library.

Information and Communication Specialists

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many information and communication technology specialists are in full-time employment in the Department.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has 125 information and communications technology specialists in its employment across all UK and overseas offices. The numbers are broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 United Kingdom  
			 Information Systems Department 85 
			 Business Transformation Unit 6 
			 Information and Communication for Development 1 
			 Total 92 
			   
			 Overseas  
			 Regional IT Managers 6 
			 Local IT administrators 27 
			 Total 33 
		
	
	UK based staff are engaged in the design, development, deployment and support of ICT applications to support DFID's business processes. There is also ICT support in the Information and Communication for Development team to provide technical advice on the use of ICT in DFID supported programmes.
	Regional IT Managers oversee the deployment and support of internal ICT systems for DFID offices in Southern Africa, East Africa, West Africa, India, South East Asia and the Caribbean. Full-time IT administrators are locally employed in DFID's larger overseas offices to provide administration and support for staff using the ICT systems. Strong ICT systems are central to DFID's ability to deliver effectively on its Public Service Agreement. The number of ICT staff employed by DFID is determined through strategic planning processes which define the business benefits and service levels and demand demonstrable efficiency.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service Pensions

Clive Betts: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many widows and widowers of civil servants who are beneficiaries of the Classic Civil Service pension scheme have remarried or decided to cohabit with a new partner and consequently lost their pension rights in the last 10 years;
	(2)  how much it is estimated it would cost to restore pensions rights to the widows or widowers of civil servants who have remarried or decided to cohabit with a new partner in the last 10 years.

Ruth Kelly: Details of the number of widows or widowers whose pensions were suspended on remarriage or cohabitation in the last 10 years are not readily available. Between 1 October 2002 and 31 August 2004, 325 widows' or widowers' pensions were suspended due to remarriage or cohabitation.
	Based on data in respect of the period between 1 October 2002 and 31 August 2004, the estimated cost of restoring pensions rights to the widows or widowers of civil servants who have remarried or decided to cohabit with a new partner in the last 10 years is in the order of 50 million.

Civil Service Pensions

Clive Betts: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many widows or widowers of civil servants who have remarried or decided to cohabit with a new partner and consequently lost their civil service pensions have subsequently had their pensions restored on compassionate grounds in the last year.

Ruth Kelly: In the period 1 September 2003 to 31 August 2004, 16 widows or widowers of civil servants have had their previously ceased civil service spouses' pension restored to them.

Departmental Estate

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what revenues were generated by her Department's disposal of (a) the bunker at Carmarthen and (b) the Civil Service Sports Council, Chadwick street, referred to in paragraph 1.10 of the Cabinet Office Departmental Report 2004.

Ruth Kelly: Hill House, Carmarthen was sold via an administrative transfer to the National Assembly for Wales, for 100,000.
	The building in Chadwick street occupied by the Civil Service Sports Council was sold for just over 4 million, to the Civil Service Sports Council Ltd.
	Both sites were disposed of at existing current market valuation.

Departmental Responsibilities

Eric Forth: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of (a) his time and (b) the time of his officials is spent on fulfilling his ministerial responsibilities.

Alan Milburn: I spend the time that is necessary to fulfil my ministerial responsibilities. My officials support me in carrying out these ministerial responsibilities.

Departmental Responsibilities

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  if she will list the additional functions (a) taken on and (b) anticipated to be taken on by her Department in 200405 in comparison with 200304;
	(2)  what recent assessment her Department has made of the extent to which it has (a) succeeded and (b) failed in its first objective of supporting the Prime Minister in leading the Government;
	(3)  in which areas of (a) policy and (b) operations her Department has (i) achieved and (ii) failed to achieve its second objective of achieving co-ordination across Government in each year since 2001.

Ruth Kelly: The Cabinet Office's role is outlined in our Public Service Agreement. Work in support of Cabinet Office objectives and targets is accounted for in the Departmental Report, Autumn Performance Report and the Annual Report and Resource Accounts, all of which are published annually. Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

Departmental Responsibilities

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much overall her Department has budgeted to meet the additional overall cost of appointing a separate Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; into what principal categories this budget is broken down; and what the anticipated extra cost is of each such category.

Ruth Kelly: The cost of appointing a separate Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be met from within the existing Cabinet Office budget.

Departmental Websites

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent assessment she has made of the extent to which each Department's (a) informational and (b) interactive websites are used by members of the public, in comparison with other methods of communication.

Ruth Kelly: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) omnibus survey measures the use of government websites as a percentage of the population on a quarterly basis. Currently 28 per cent. of the adult population visit government websites. The most frequent use of government websites is informational24 per cent. of the population visit for informational purposes, while 8 per cent. download forms and 6 per cent. transact.

Preparing for Emergencies

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what arrangements have been made for delivery of the booklet Preparing for Emergencies (a) to houses in multiple occupation and (b) to houses converted into flats;
	(2)  how many copies of the booklet Preparing for Emergencies have been (a) printed and (b) delivered to addresses in the United Kingdom.

Ruth Kelly: 26.7 million copies of Preparing for Emergencies have been printed in English and Welsh. Copies were also produced in each of the alternative languages and formats to meet initial demand. Extra copies of these are now being printed as further requests are received.
	25.8 million copies were delivered to addresses in the United Kingdom through a national door-drop delivery. A television, radio and newspaper advertising campaign followed this to alert people to the fact that they should have received a copy of the booklet. It offered a number of alternative ways to get a copy of the booklet for people who had not yet received one.
	Requests can be made, free of charge, by filling in and posting a newspaper coupon, or via the telephone orderline 0800 88 77 77 or via the website at www. preparingforemergencies.gov.uk.
	This two stage strategy has allowed us to reach the greatest number of households in the UK, including those residents in properties divided into flats or multiple occupancy, who we were aware might be potentially difficult to reach.

Foreign Policy

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the methodology employed by her Department in co-ordinating policy development for (a) Iraq, (b) Zimbabwe and (c) the Middle East peace process.

Ruth Kelly: The Defence and Overseas Secretariat in the Cabinet Office oversees cross-government policy on a wide range of foreign policy matters. These currently include issues relating to Iraq, Zimbabwe and the Middle East Peace Process. This activity is undertaken through discussion with all Government Departments concerned, and through inter-departmental meetings at both ministerial and official level.

Internet Advertising

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much money the Government intends to spend on advertising on the internet in (a) the current financial year and (b) the next financial year; and if she will list (i) the departments concerned and (ii) the amounts spent in each case.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 16 September 2004
	The information requested is not held centrally. Information on total advertising spending is held by individual Departments.
	However, Government online advertising, planning and buying is procured through a Central Office of Information (COI) rostered supplier.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to her answer of 15 September 2004, Official Report, column 1591W, on non-departmental public bodies, if the Office will issue further guidance to non-departmental public bodies listed in the publication, Public Bodies, as not holding annual open meetings to encourage them to comply with the Code of Practice.

Ruth Kelly: On 17 September the Cabinet Office issued a new version of its guide Non Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments which has been placed on the Cabinet Office website. The new guide includes a section on openness and accountability which, among other guidance intended to encourage non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) to be open and accountable to the community, refers to open meetings. This encourages NDPBs to hold open meetings at least once a year. NDPBs should advertise these widely to stakeholders and make a report on the outcomes or the minutes widely available. Departments have been asked to draw the new guide to the attention of all the teams sponsoring NDPBs. A copy of the new guide has been placed in the Library.

Regulatory Impact Unit

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many secondees from (a) small and medium enterprises and (b) businesses as a whole have worked in the Regulatory Impact Unit for each year since 2001.

Ruth Kelly: The number of secondees from private businesses employed by the Regulatory Impact Unit since 2001, as at 1 April of each year, is shown in the following table. To date none of the secondees has been from small and medium enterprises.
	
		
			 As at 1 April Secondees 
		
		
			 2001 4 
			 2002 7 
			 2003 4 
			 2004 3

Special Advisers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many special adviser posts which carry executive responsibilities are (a) filled and (b) unfilled; and whether it is intended to fill vacant posts.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the former Cabinet Office Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander), on 10 March 2004, Official Report, column 1515W.
	There are no plans to make any further appointments.

DEFENCE

Aerospace Equipment Exports

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down the additional aerospace equipment exports listed in UK Defence Statistics by country, for each year since 1997.

Adam Ingram: Estimates of total export deliveries and orders for defence equipment and services relating to the United Kingdom are published by the Defence Analytical Services Agency in UK Defence Statisticsthe latest copy of which is available in the Library of the House. This includes data on additional aerospace equipment and services from a survey that is undertaken by the Society of British Aerospace Companies. A breakdown of the additional aerospace equipment exports line by country is not available, as the data are not collected at this level of detail. The Society of British Aerospace Companies do, however, publish data on aggregate UK Aerospace Companies' Military Export orders by broad regional destinationEU countries and the Rest of the World. These are available in their annual publication UK Aerospace Facts and Figures.

Afghanistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to improve living and working conditions for UK personnel in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: UK forces personnel in Afghanistan already have access to a comprehensive Operation Welfare Package. The largest concentration of UK Forces personnel in Afghanistan is at Camp Souter, Kabul. Facilities here are generally good, with brick built accommodation, however we are working on plans to upgrade the kitchen facilities and construct more ablutions in the barrack blocks. For personnel living and working in Mazar-e Sharif the intent is to upgrade the kitchen facilities, and replace the tented accommodation with brick-built UK designed complexes. The first stage of this should be completed early next year.

Aircraft (Grounding)

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what principles govern the grounding of Ministry of Defence aircraft.

Adam Ingram: The only principle which governs the grounding of Ministry of Defence aircraft is that of airworthiness: if there is deemed to be an unacceptable risk in continuing with flying operations, aircraft will be grounded

C130K Hercules Fleet

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the case for extending the life of the C130K Hercules fleet beyond 2012.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 September 2004
	The out of service dates for in-service equipment are routinely reviewed as part of normal planning work within the Ministry of Defence. The Hercules C130K is one such case. No decisions have, however, been taken to extend its life beyond 2012.

Chequers

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF personnel are employed at Chequers; and in what capacity.

Ivor Caplin: There are currently four RAF personnel employed at Chequers, comprising three stewards and one chef.

Detainees (US)

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many suspects originally detained by UK forces (a) worldwide since 2001 and (b) in Iraq since 2003 have been handed over to the USA for interrogation; how many of those suspects are still in US custody; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the right hon. Member to my response to his question (172697) on 1 September 2004, Official Report, column 724W.
	Since 2001 the United Kingdom forces have not transferred over any persons they apprehended to the United States specifically for interrogation.

Eurofighter

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial commitments are involved in the Eurofighter contract.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom's financial commitments to date to Eurofighter contracts total 11,193 million covering the development, production and in-service support of Tranche 1 aircraft and some preparatory activities for Tranche 2.

Falkland Islands

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department takes to ensure the compatibility of equipment held by the Falkland Islands Defence Force with that held by British troops stationed on the islands.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Marine Warrant Officer serving on loan to the Falkland Islands Defence Force (FIDF) advises on compatibility of training and equipment. FIDF weapons are compatible with the ammunition types held by British forces on the Islands. The FIDF also trains regularly with the UK garrison to improve interoperability.

International Committee of the Red Cross Report (Iraq)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason it was decided not to provide the Prime Minister's special envoy on human rights in Iraq with the report by the International Committee of the Red Cross on alleged abuse of detainees held in British custody, dated February 2004.

Geoff Hoon: By the time the International Committee of the Red Cross produced its interim report in February both the two major concerns it raised, and the single minor one, had been dealt with. The International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC) had also informed the Ministry of Defence officials in subsequent meetings that they were broadly content with the conditions and regime at the UK's Detention Centre at Shaibah. Consequently there was no reason for officials to bring it to the attention of Ministers or the Special Envoy.

Iraq

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the population centres and districts in Iraq where coalition forces do not operate on the ground owing to force protection concerns.

Adam Ingram: There are no areas in Iraq where multinational forces are unable to operate on the basis purely of force protection concerns. The multinational force can and does operate across the country in support of the Iraqi Interim Government.
	There are areas in which multinational forces agree with Iraqi forces that there will be operational restriction. In some areas this is in order not to worsen existing tensions. Currently, parts of Fallujah, Samara, Ramadi and Baghdad are subject to varying degrees of restriction, though areas change as circumstances and/or activity by Anti-Iraqi Forces alter.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Colonel Chris Terrington made representations to his superiors about detainee mistreatment at Abu Ghraib.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 September 2004
	Colonel Terrington had no direct responsibility for any aspect of Abu Ghraib. He was not aware of any specific allegations of abuse. Though he was aware that an investigation was under way, he had no knowledge of its remit.

Iraq

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Oral Statement by the Prime Minister of 19 April 2004, Official Report, columns 2137, on Iraq, whether the siege of Fallujah was in accordance with the principles laid down in the Coalition Provisional Authority's military and political strategy.

Geoff Hoon: All operations conducted by members of the international coalition in Iraq prior to the handover of sovereignty to the Interim Iraqi Government were in accordance with the aims of bringing peace to the country, returning it to its people through a democratic Iraqi Government and ridding it of internal and external terrorists and those wishing to use militias or armed insurgents to enforce their own rule against the wishes of the majority of Iraqis.

Iraq

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what liaison UK forces personnel have had with private (a) military and (b) intelligence contractors employed by the US Government.

Adam Ingram: Specific guidance on contact with private military and security contractors is provided to United Kingdom forces personnel in Iraq. These recognise that there will be routine contact with such companies on day-to-day operational security matters, for example in respect of threat assessments and in order to de-conflict respective operations. Such liaison is essential to the success of the operation in Iraq.

Nimrod

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors contributed to the decision to upgrade the Nimrod R1 aircraft rather than replace it; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As part of the Project Helix assessment phase a balance of investment study is currently being conducted to determine the most cost effective solution to our capability requirements in this area. No final decision has yet been taken. Upgrading the Nimrod R MK1 airframe is one option being considered.

Olympic Games

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of HM armed forces competed in the 2004 Olympic Games.

Adam Ingram: Three members of HM armed forces competed in the 2004 Athens Olympics, all from the Army. Private Musa Audu, representing Nigeria in the 4x400m relay, won a bronze medal; Captain Guy Fordham represented Great Britain in hockey and Lieutenant Robin Bourne Taylor in rowing.

Plastic Baton Rounds

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians have been (a) killed and (b) injured by plastic baton rounds discharged in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: United Kingdom forces did not use baton rounds in Iraq during major combat operations, which ended on 1 May 2003.
	Since then UK Units have used baton rounds in situations, such as some instances of riot control, where there has been a clear threat to UK forces, civilians and/or property but where use of lethal force would have been a disproportionate response.
	Since 1 May 2003, UK forces have reported all confirmed fatalities of which they are aware arising from incidents in which they were involved. We are not aware of any fatalities resulting from hits from baton rounds. UK forces have also provided medical assistance to a number of injured Iraqi civilians but we do not record centrally the causes of injury.
	We are not in a position to comment on civilian casualties allegedly caused by other coalition partners.

Provigil

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of (i) Provigil and (ii) amphetamines and similar drugs in the last eight years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Records held by Qinetiq indicate that research was conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Defence into the effect of certain pharmaceutical agents of this type on sleep, performance and motion sickness. One of the drugs investigated was modafinil, which is the non proprietary name for Provigil. The other drugs investigated were pemoline, caffeine and ephedrine.
	In line with normal practice, the MOD commissioned this research, which was approved by an independent ethics committee, in order to develop and maintain our understanding of scientific developments in this field.

RAF Bentwaters

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has a residual interest in the former Royal Air Force station at Bentwaters, Suffolk.

Ivor Caplin: The only interest which the Ministry of Defence retained in the former RAF Bentwaters, following its disposal in May 2004, is a lease for 2,000 years for an oil pipeline and pipeline termination point.

RAF Fylingdales

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the expected date of completion of the upgrading of RAF Fylingdales for the US Missile Defence System.

Geoff Hoon: Completion of equipment installation work and testing of the upgrade is expected by October 2005, from which time the radar will be able to support the missile defence mission. Decommissioning and removal of existing equipment will not be completed until summer 2006.

Recruitment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many young people were recruited to (a) the Cheshire Regiment and (b) other parts of the armed forces in the Birkenhead area in each of the last 10 years.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is as follows:
	Naval Service
	It is not possible to produce data for officers recruited to the Naval Services in the Birkenhead area as officers are recruited nationwide by Area Career Liaison Offices (ACLOs), which are dispersed around the country.
	The recruiting of all Naval Ratings in the Birkenhead area is carried out through the Armed Forces Career Office (AFCO) in Liverpool and it is not possible to refine the information further. The following table shows the recruiting figures for Liverpool, from 1994 up to the present day.
	
		
			  Number of recruits 
		
		
			 199495 42 
			 199596 122 
			 199697 282 
			 199798 350 
			 199899 355 
			 19992000 307 
			 200001 245 
			 200102 286 
			 200203 252 
			 200304 168 
		
	
	Army
	Similarly to the Naval Services, Army officers are not recruited through AFCOs so it is not possible to provide data on recruitment in a specific area.
	The following table shows the numbers of soldiers enlisted into the Army through the Army Careers Information Office (AGIO) in Birkenhead between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2004. Reliable data for earlier years is not held. The figures in brackets represent those recruited to the Prince of Wales Division Infantry, of whom all but a very few would join the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment.
	
		
			  Number of recruits 
		
		
			 200001 158 (23) 
			 200102 144 (29) 
			 200203 125 (28) 
			 200304 122 (53) 
		
	
	RAF
	The figures for RAF recruits (both officers and airmen) provided are from the Liverpool area as it is not possible to differentiate between the sub-districts. Figures provided before 2000 have been compiled from an older IT system which unfortunately contains some omissions. Therefore, there are no data available for the recruitment of officers in the years 199495 and 199596, or for airmen in the years 199495 and 199697.
	For the year 200304 it was possible to sort by postcode; accordingly, the overall total is for Liverpool with subtotals, in brackets, showing those recruited from Birkenhead postcodes.
	
		
			  Officers Airmen Total 
		
		
			 199394 8 188 196 
			 199495
			 199596  82  
			 199697 3   
			 199798 2 160 162 
			 199899 5 212 217 
			 19992000 4 190 194 
			 200001 3 197 200 
			 200102 8 140 148 
			 200203 5 175 180 
			 200304 5 (0) 189 (45) 194 (45)

Regimental Amalgamations

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many regiments have remained unamalgamated throughout their history.

Ivor Caplin: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Intellectual Property

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she is taking in conjunction with other public agencies to strengthen protection of intellectual property in the creative arts.

Estelle Morris: I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 19 July 2004, Official Report, column 2WS.
	The Creative Industries Forum on Intellectual Property had its first meeting on 19 July 2004, jointly chaired by myself and my noble Friend the Minister for Science and Innovation, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, and agreed to focus on three main areas of work: Piracy and File-sharing; New Business Models; and Education and Communication. The Forum is due to meet again in late November 2004.
	The Department also supports a range of initiatives being taken forward by the Patent Office, an executive agency of the Department for Trade and Industry, in this very important area of work.

Museums (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding (a) has been committed and (b) will be made available through the Renaissance in the Regions programme to (i) Armley Mills and (ii) other museums in Leeds.

Estelle Morris: Under the Designation Challenge Fund, which is part of the Renaissance in the Regions programme, grants of up to 202,300 have been awarded to Leeds Museums and Galleries, which includes Armley Mills.
	Leeds Museums and Galleries is also a partner in the Yorkshire Regional Museum Hub, one of the nine regional hubs funded through Renaissance in the Regions. The total allocations to the Yorkshire Regional Museum Hub under Spending Review 2002 are as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200304 210,000 
			 200405 676,000 
			 200506 1,180,000 
		
	
	It is difficult to specify what resources each hub partner receives, since much of the funding goes on general programmes that benefit all hub partners. It is for the hub to determine how much is allocated to cross-hub programmes and how much to individual hub partners.
	Decisions on Renaissance funding beyond 200506 will be announced later this year.

Royal Parks

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much private finance has been attracted to the royal parks in each of the last seven years.

Richard Caborn: In answering the question I have taken 'private finance' to encompass Public Private Partnership (PPP) or Private Finance Initiative (PFI) arrangements entered into by the Royal Parks, the agency which manages the Royal parks in London.
	It is the Royal Parks' normal practice, under the terms of their contracts, to make their concessionaires responsible for the maintenance of the buildings they occupy. The Royal Parks do not normally have information about the expenditure incurred by concessionaires on maintenance or improvements. However, during the last seven years there have been three instances where concessionaires have made significant investment in the buildingsPembroke Lodge in Richmond Park; Inn The Park in St. James's Park; and the boathouses in Regent's Park. The Royal Parks estimate that a total of 3.3 million of private finance has been invested in these ventures over the period. The Royal Parks does not have a breakdown of expenditure by year for these concessions.

Television Licences

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households there are in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland; and how many are in possession of a television licence.

Estelle Morris: The table shows how many households there are in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland:
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Number 
		
		
			 Belfast, East 34,824 
			 Belfast, North 36,383 
			 Belfast, South 39,715 
			 Belfast, West 30,992 
			 East Antrim 32,789 
			 East Londonderry 32,280 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 32,203 
			 Foyle 35,947 
			 Lagan Valley 38,405 
			 Mid Ulster 28,350 
			 Newry and Armagh 34,473 
			 North Antrim 37,583 
			 North Down 34,931 
			 South Antrim 36,725 
			 South Down 35,605 
			 Strangford 37,898 
			 Upper Bann 38,518 
			 West Tyrone 29,097 
		
	
	TV Licensing, who administer the television licensing system as agent for the BBC, are not able to provide breakdowns by parliamentary constituency of the number of licences issued. However, I understand that at 31 March 2003, the total number of television licences in force in Northern Ireland was approximately 560,000.

Television Licences

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households have been visited in each Northern Ireland parliamentary constituency in the past 12 months by staff investigating those who do not hold a current television licence.

Estelle Morris: TV Licensing, who administer the television licensing system as agent for the BBC, are not able to provide breakdowns by parliamentary constituency of the number of investigations into possible evasion. However, I understand that TV Licensing made 37,000 visits to homes in Northern Ireland in the 200304 financial year. This figure includes repeat visits to some addresses.

Television Licences

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in what circumstances (a) a person aged 75 years or over and (b) any other person allowed a concessionary television licence may take out such a licence additionally for a second or further property occupied by them; and what conditions (i) of residence or (ii) otherwise are required.

Estelle Morris: Free television licences for people aged 75 or over are available only for a person's sole or main residence. The 5 accommodation for residential care concession is available in respect of qualifying accommodation in which a retired person aged 60 or over or a disabled person is ordinarily resident, but does not extend to any other properties which such a person may own or occupy. The 50 per cent. reduction in the licence fee for registered blind people is available for any premises that are a residence of the individual concerned.

Wembley Stadium

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the impact on the construction of the new Wembley Stadium of the sacking of engineering construction workers by Fastrack Site Services; and what discussions Ministers have had with the Football Association on this.

Richard Caborn: The industrial action at Wembley National Stadium was resolved in mid-September, when Hollandia, a sub-contractor of Multiplex at the Wembley site, offered to re-employ all of the sacked men.
	We have been monitoring the situation carefully, working closely with all those involved in the stadium development, including the Football Association.
	I am reassured that the stadium remains on target for completion in January 2006 and to be built within budget.

TREASURY

Child Benefit (Manchester)

Keith Bradley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families resident in the City of Manchester claim child benefit for a student aged 18 years.

Dawn Primarolo: There were 1,320 such families at November 2002. The number of child benefit recipients in each local authority and constituency at November 2003 will be published on 14 October 2004, by Inland Revenue under National Statistics.

Overseas Travel

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of trips abroad by UK residents made in (a) 1975, (b) 1980, (c) 1990, (d) 2000 and (e) 2003.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Battle dated 11 October 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the number of trips abroad by UK residents made in (a) 1975, (b) 1980, (c) 1990, (d) 2000 and (e) 2003. (189926)
	The estimated numbers of visits overseas' made by UK residents in the years requested are shown in the table.
	
		Thousands
		
			 Year Number of visits 
		
		
			 1975 11,992 
			 1980 17,507 
			 1990 31,150 
			 2000 56,837 
			 2003 61,424 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Insurance

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to improve regulation of the insurance industry; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is responsible for regulating financial services in the UK. The FSA has identified prudential regulation of the insurance sector as a priority and has developed a comprehensive strategy to address this issue. In addition, the FSA will regulate the selling of general insurance business from 14 January 2005.

Royal Residences

Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the accommodation formerly occupied by the late HRH Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in Windsor Great Park consists of.

Stephen Timms: The accommodation occupied by HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother within Windsor Great Park was:
	(a) Royal Lodge consisting of the main house including staff accommodation, gardens and grounds of 40.3 hectares including tennis court and the miniature Welsh cottage;
	and within these grounds:
	(b) Gardener's cottage;
	(c) Chapel lodge;
	(d) No. 6 Lodge Cottages;
	(e) Police security accommodation.

Royal Residences

Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans have been made for the future use of the cottage previously occupied by the late HRH Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in Windsor Great Park; and what, other than accommodation, is included in the lease for the cottage in Windsor Great Park.

Stephen Timms: Royal Lodge has been leased to HRH The Duke of York with effect from 16 June 2003 for a period of 75 years. The lease is for all of the accommodation identified in answer to the right hon. Gentleman's question 188550.

Royal Residences

Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors determined the length of the lease for the cottage in Windsor Great Park previously occupied by the late HRH Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Stephen Timms: The lease to HRH The Duke of York for Royal Lodge is for 75 years.
	The length of lease was agreed as a suitable period, taking into account the refurbishment of the property which the tenant is required to meet at his own expense in the first two years of the lease.

Royal Residences

Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the basis of valuation of the lease for the cottage in Windsor Great Park previously occupied by the late HRH Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was; and who carried out the valuation.

Stephen Timms: The terms and valuation of the lease were negotiated between The Crown Estate as landlord and HRH The Duke of York as tenant. Agents were appointed by both parties and were required to agree the terms of the lease on a commercial basis for the lease period of 75 years.
	The rental valuation was to take into account the requirement of the landlord for the tenant to restore and modernise the property at his own expense to an agreed standard.

Royal Residences

Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the current value of the lease for the cottage in Windsor Great Park previously occupied by the late HRH Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother is, using Treasury discounting figures.

Stephen Timms: The lease was granted on a commercial basis. It also takes into account the refurbishment of the property which the tenant is required to meet at his own expense in the first two years of the lease.

Royal Residences

Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what financial basis the cottage in Windsor Great Park previously occupied by the late HRH Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother had previously been occupied.

Stephen Timms: The Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) were granted occupation of Royal Lodge by King George V in 1931, without charge.
	The property reverted to The Crown Estate on the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 2002.

Average Mortality Rates

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average mortality rate for (a) professional groups and (b) manual groups in (i) Hartlepool Primary Care Trust and (ii) England was in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 16 September 2004
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 11 October 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average mortality rate for (a) professional groups and (b) manual groups in (i) Hartlepool Primary Care Trust and (ii) England was in the last year for which figures are available. (189266)
	The most recent available mortality rates for sub-national areas by Social Class, based on occupation, are those which use populations from the 1991 Census. Figures for the period 19911993 were published for England and its constituent Government Office Regions (GORs) for males aged .2064. Figures are not available for smaller geographic areas. Those based on populations from the 2001 Census, and deaths in the years around that Census, are not yet available. Figures for 19911993 are included in the table below for England and the North East GOR (which includes the area covered by Hartlepool Primary Care Trust).
	
		Mortality rates(19) by social class, males aged 2064, England and the North East Government Office Region,(20)19911993 3
		
			 Social class England North East GOR 
		
		
			 Non manual 315 351 
			 IProfessional 271 293 
			 IIManagerial and technical/intermediate 293 326 
			 IIINSkilled non-manual 418 463 
			
			 Manual 516 663 
			 IIIMSkilled manual 489 577 
			 IVPartly skilled 486 636 
			 VUnskilled 786 1,285 
			
			 All men 425 546 
		
	
	(19) Death rates per 100,000 population age-standardised to the European Standard Population.
	(20) Usual residents of these areas.
	(21) Deaths registered in each year.
	Source:
	Griffiths C. and Fitzpatrick J. Geographic Variations in Health, Decennial Supplement No 16, TSO London, 2001.

Children (Expenditure)

Jean Corston: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for each of the years 1996 to 2004, what the estimated expenditure was for all children and per child, in current and in real terms, on (a) family credit, (b) working families tax credit, (c) child benefit, (d) children's allowance, (e) child maintenance premium for parents with care on income support and (f) in total; and if he will express the total expenditure on children as a percentage of gross domestic product.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is provided in the following tables. The figures for child benefit, child allowances in Income Related Benefits (IRBsincome support, jobseeker's allowance and minimum income guarantee/pension credit) and family credit are for Great Britain; those for working families' tax credit (WFTC) and child tax credit are UK wide. There is no Government expenditure on the child maintenance premium in income support because it is funded by payments from the non-resident parent.
	
		Table 1: Aggregate expenditure, nominal terms  billion nominal
		
			  Child Benefit Child allowances in IRBs Family Credit 1 WFTC 1 Child Tax Credit Total Total (Percentage GDP) 
		
		
			 199697 6,941 2,650 1,014   10,605 1.4 
			 199798 7,088 2,480 1,119   10,687 1.3 
			 199899 7,295 2,465 1,161   10,921 1.3 
			 19992000 8,283 2,670 953 549  12,455 1.4 
			 200001 8,660 3,125  2,503  14,288 1.5 
			 200102 8,795 3,482  3,162  15,439 1.5 
			 200203 8,945 3,945  3,466  16,356 1.6 
			 200304(22) 9,400 3,847  (23) 8,889 22,136 2.0 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Aggregate expenditure, real terms  billion real terms (200405 prices)
		
			  Child Benefit Child allowances in IRBs Family Credit 1 WFTC 1 Child Tax Credit Total Total (Percentage GDP) 
		
		
			 199697 8,413 3,212 1,229   12,855 1.5 
			 199798 8,415 2,944 1,328   12,688 1.4 
			 199899 8,360 2,825 1,330   12,515 1.3 
			 19992000 9,198 2,965 1,058 609  13,830 1.4 
			 200001 9,512 3,432  2,749  15,693 1.6 
			 200102 9,351 3,702  3,362  16,415 1.6 
			 200203 9,352 4,124  3,624  17,100 1.7 
			 200304(22) 9,663 3,955  (23) 9,138 22,755 2.2 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Expenditure per child, nominal terms  per week nominal
		
			  199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 1 
		
		
			 Family Credit(23) 704 732 738 881 
			 WFTC(23)800 1,121 1,258 1,283 (24) 
			 Child Benefit 543 558 576 653 684 697 712 722 
			 Child allowances in IRBs 807 878 915 1,013 1,225 1,397 1,634 1,644 
			 Child Tax Credit847 
		
	
	
		Table 4: Expenditure per child, real terms  per week real terms (200405 prices)
		
			  199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Family Credit(23) 854 869 846 978 
			 WFTC(23)888 1,231 1,337 1,341 (24) 
			 Child Benefit 658 662 660 725 751 741 744 742 
			 Child allowances in IRBs 978 1,042 1,049 1,125 1,346 1,486 1,708 1,690 
			 Child Tax Credit870 
		
	
	(22) Figures for 200304 are estimates.
	(23) The values for expenditure on family credit and WFTC are not total expenditure on these credits, but the amount of expenditure attributable to the children in the household.
	(24) Some payments of WFTC were made in 200304 but these related to 200203 awards.

Children (Expenditure)

Jean Corston: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  following Chart 3.3 in his Department's Child Poverty Review for July 2004, what the total expenditure was in real terms and total expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product on (a) child benefit, (b) tax credits and (c) other income-related benefits for children in (i) 1997, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2004 (estimated); and what the respective amounts were for each for the first, sixth and tenth decile groups;
	(2)  for (a) economically active and (b) non-economically active households with children what the total expenditure was on children for (i) child benefit, (ii) tax credits and (c) other income related benefits for children in (A) 1997, (B) 2000; and what the estimated figures are for 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: The figures requested are in the following tables. The figures for child benefit, child allowances in Income Related Benefits (IRBsincome support, jobseeker's allowance and minimum income guarantee/pension credit) and family credit are for Great Britain; those for working families' tax credit (WFTC) and child tax credit are UK wide.
	We do not have analysis by decile for 200001 and to produce it would incur disproportionate cost.
	We classify individuals, rather than households, as economically active or non-economically active, so cannot provide the additional analysis requested.
	
		Table A: Total Expenditure in real terms (200405 prices)  billion
		
			  Child benefit Family credit/tax credits Other income-related benefits for children 
		
		
			 199798 8,415 1,328 2,944 
			 200001 9,512 2,749 3,432 
			 200304(25) 9,663, 9,138 3,955 
		
	
	
		Table B: Total expenditure as a percentage of GDP
		
			  Child benefit Family credit/tax credits Other income-related benefits for children 
		
		
			 199798 0.9 0.1 0.3 
			 200001 1.0 0.3 0.4 
			 200304(25) 0.9 0.9 0.4 
		
	
	
		Table C: Breakdown of expenditure by decile  billion
		
			  (i) 199798 
			 Net equivalised household income Child benefit Family credit Other income-related benefits for children 
		
		
			 Bottom decile 1,200 510 1,300 
			 Sixth decile 850 13 20 
			 Top decile 530 11 0 
		
	
	
		(ii) 200304 1
		
			  Net equivalised household income   Child benefit Tax credits and other income-related benefits for children(26) 
		
		
			 Bottom decile 1,300 3,700 
			 Sixth decile 980 600 
			 Top decile 600 25 
		
	
	
		Table D: Breakdown of expenditure by decile (as a percentage of GDP)
		
			  (i) 199798 
			 Net equivalised household income Child benefit Child elements of family credit Other income-related benefits for children 
		
		
			 Bottom decile 0.13 0.06 0.15 
			 Sixth decile 0.10 0.00 0.00 
			 Top decile 0.06 0.00 0.00 
		
	
	
		(ii) 200304 1
		
			   Net equivalised household incomeChild benefit Child elements of tax credits and other income-related benefits for children(26) 
		
		
			 Bottom decile 0.13 0.36 
			 Sixth decile 0.09 0.06 
			 Top decile 0.06 0.00 
		
	
	(25) The figures for 200304 are estimates.
	(26) The model we use to produce estimates by decile is not able to distinguish between child elements in tax credits and other incomer-related benefits for 200304.

Civil Service

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Civil Service jobs will be lost in the (a) Huddersfield area, (b) Kirklees area, (c) West Yorkshire area and (d) Yorkshire and Humber Region as a result of the cuts announced in the 2004 Spending Review.

Paul Boateng: Full details of the workforce changes announced in the Spending Review are being worked through, and we are consulting all stakeholders including unions and staff.
	Departments will come forward in due course with details of workforce changes once plans are finalised.

Disabled People

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the major initiatives the Treasury has undertaken since 1997 in relation to disabled people.

Stephen Timms: I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of 16 September 2004, Official Report, columns 173841W. My Department works closely with DWP on some of these initiatives. Treasury's 2004 Departmental Report (Cm 6222) presented to Parliament on 30 April 2004 contains details of that work. The Report was also deposited in the Library and made available online at http://www.hm-treasury. gov.uk

Economy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the state of the economy.

Stephen Timms: The UK economy has continued to perform strongly, thanks to the domestic macroeconomic stability that this Government's policies have delivered. UK GDP grew by 3.5 per cent. in the year to the first half of 2004, up from 2 per cent. in the same period of 2003 and consistent with the Budget 2004 forecast. Meanwhile, the UK has the lowest rate of unemployment in the G7 and inflation is at historically low levels.
	The Government will update their forecasts for the UK and world economies in Pre-Budget Report 2004.

Employee Financial Participation

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps are being taken by regional enterprise departments and agencies (a) to develop employee ownership and (b) to meet the intention of doubling the number of UK companies with employee financial participation;
	(2)  what the distribution of share incentive plans (SIPs) is in (a) listed companies, (b) small and medium enterprises, (c) companies whose schemes were their first move into employee financial participation and (d) companies who introduced SIP as a replacement for older schemes;
	(3)  how many (a) companies and (b) employees are covered by share incentive plans (i) in total, (ii) as a percentage of the workforce involved and (iii) as a percentage of the total UK workforce;
	(4)  how many employee ownership schemes there are in which employees hold a majority stake, broken down by geographical distribution.

John Healey: The nine Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in England, and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, have responsibility for supporting and promoting businesses activity and enterprise within each region and country of Great Britain. From April 2005 the RDAs will adopt devolved responsibility for the management of the Business Link network throughout England, which provides advice and support to businesses on a wide range of issues, including employee share ownership. The Scottish and Welsh Administrations already hold devolved responsibility for the provision of equivalent services in Scotland and Wales. The Northern Ireland Executive holds similar responsibilities for Northern Ireland when power is devolved to them.
	National Statistics on the take up of Share Incentive Plan and other employee share schemes are published on the Inland Revenue website at the following internet address: http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/emp share schemes/menu.htm

Marine Stewardship

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Crown Estate spent on marine stewardship programmes in each year since 1994.

Stephen Timms: The Crown Estate formally established a marine stewardship programme in 2000 following allocation of funding by the Board of The Crown Estate. This provides funding for community initiatives, education programmes, aquaculture research, seabed research and the renewable communities fund.
	Prior to 2000, funding for stewardship initiatives was provided via a number of different programmes. The introduction of the marine stewardship programme led to a more co-ordinated approach and a single budget stream.
	The funding awarded under the marine stewardship programme is as follows:
	
		
			   
			  Total 
		
		
			 200405 (27)358,000 
			 200304 496,000 
			 200203 462,000 
			 200102 411,000 
			 200001 383,000 
			 19992000 341,000 
			 199899 304,000 
		
	
	(27) As of 1 September 2004.
	Information before 1998 is not available as it is either unavailable in an easily identifiable format, or it is outside the statutory period for which financial records are kept.

Money Laundering

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has collated on whether holders of gilts have been used as a front by money launderers; and what safeguards are in place to prevent the information provided by gilt-holders (a) breaching human rights legislation and (b) falling into the wrong hands.

Stephen Timms: To the best of our knowledge few, if any, major cases of money laundering in the UK have yet been seen to involve gilts. It is, however, possible that gilts might be targeted in the future and, for this reason, it is essential that HM Treasury maintain robust preventative measures and deterrents. HM Treasury believes it has adopted a proportionate response in balancing the individual's right to privacy against the need to know your customer, in line with best market practice and guidance issued by the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group. HM Treasury and the current and prospective Registrars maintain robust data and system security procedures and controls.

Pension Schemes (Public Sector)

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the extra gross pension liability accruing annually in (a) funded and (b) unfunded public sector pension schemes.

Paul Boateng: The value of the liabilities for each main, centrally administered scheme is contained in the report of the actuary as published in the schemes' Resource Accounts. The extra gross pension liability accruing annually for each such scheme is shown in the notes to those Resource Accounts.

Private Finance Initiative

John Burnett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the capital liabilities in respect of private finance initiative contracts were in each year since 199091, broken down by department.

Paul Boateng: PFI contracts where the assets concerned are on the balance sheets of procuring authorities are reported in the accounts of the procuring authorities. Those accounts also show a capital liability to repay the finance lease funding assets reported on balance sheet.
	The estimated capital value of signed PFI contracts where capital assets are accounted for on departmental balance sheets is 20.7 billion. This represents 54 per cent. of the total estimated capital value of PFI contracts signed to date.
	A list of PFI contracts signed to April 2004 is available on the HM Treasury public website: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public partnerships/ppp pfi stats.cfm

Private Finance Initiative

John Burnett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual revenue or recurring liabilities in respect of private finance initiative contracts were in each year since 199091, broken down by Department.

Paul Boateng: Information on unitary charge payments made under PFI contracts are reported in the accounts of procuring authorities and are a matter for
	their Departments.
	Projected estimates of aggregate total payments under PFI contracts across Government for the next 25 years have been published in the Budget since 1999.
	Data on projections of aggregate payments made before 1999 are not held centrally and could only be collected at disproportionate cost.

Private Finance Initiative

John Burnett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what professional and other costs were incurred in respect of private finance initiative contracts in each year since 199091, broken down by Department.

Paul Boateng: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be gathered at disproportionate cost.

Self-Employed Taxpayers (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of self-employed taxpayers in the Leeds, West constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to table 3.13 Income and Tax By County and Region, 200102, on the Inland Revenue website: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income distribution/table-313200102.pdf Figures for 200203 will be published in November.

Small Businesses (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of registered small businesses in the Leeds, West constituency.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John Battle, dated 11 October 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the latest estimate of the number of registered small businesses in the Leeds, West constituency. (189947)
	The latest available information relates to 2003 and shows that the number of small businesses in the Leeds, West constituency registered for Value Added Tax is 1,445.
	Further information about the number of businesses in the United Kingdom is available from the National Statistics publication PA1003Size Analysis of United Kingdom Businesses 2003 available free of charge on the National Statistics website: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pa1003

Tax Credits

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new claims for tax credits have been received but not yet processed.

Dawn Primarolo: As at 31 August 2004, there were around 55,000 claims that were waiting for further information or were being verified. Over 100,000 new claims were received during August.

Tax Credits

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Inland Revenue to adjust the levels of repayment for individuals who have been overpaid tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit? confirms the maximum amounts by which the Inland Revenue would reduce the current year's tax credits to recover overpaid tax credit from 200304. A copy of the Code of Practice has been placed in the Library of the House and the text can be found on the Inland Revenue website on www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk. The content of the code is kept under review.

Tax Credits

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many recipients of tax credits were found to have been overpaid in each year since 2001, broken down by (a) type of credit and (b) bands of overpayments;
	(2)  how many recipients of tax credit overpaid in each year since 2001 have been (a) subject to attempts at recovery of overpayment, (b) subject to no such attempts and (c) subject to such attempts which have now been abandoned, broken down by type of credit;
	(3)  how much tax credit overpaid was or is anticipated to be recovered in each year since 2001, broken down by type of credit;
	(4)  what the value is of tax credit overpaid in each year since 2001 which have been (a) subject to attempts at recovery of overpayment, (b) subject to no such attempts and (c) subject to such attempts which have now been abandoned, broken down by type of credit.

Dawn Primarolo: For working families' and disabled person's tax credits, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 12 November 2003, Official Report, column 394W.
	For child and working tax credits, complete figures for overpaid 200304 awards will not be available until these awards are finalised.

Tax Credits

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many working tax credit back-dated payment claims were outstanding on (a) 1 January and (b) 1 June by more than six weeks; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available. Claims for tax credits are normally put into payment quickly unless the Inland Revenue needs more information to process them. At any date, there are always some claims for which additional information is being sought, and in some circumstances this can delay the claim being put into payment.

Tax Credits

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to ensure software upgrades to the working tax credit system are installed; what impact he expects the upgrades to have on the outstanding back-dated payment claims; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There are regular, planned, upgrades and releases of software to add new functionality for the tax credits cyclefor example, in April 2004 there was increased functionality in connection with finalisation and renewal of tax credits claims for 200304 and 200405. Upgrades to software are not expected to have a significant effect on the numbers of claims awaiting processing.

Tobacco Consumption

Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the economy of reduced tobacco consumption.

John Healey: Isolating the impact on the economy of a particular public health trend, such as declining tobacco consumption, is very difficult. However, the Wanless Report, Securing Good Health for the Whole Population, presents a range of evidence about the impact of smoking on public health, indicating that smoking kills 120,000 people in the UK every year, costing the NHS up to 1.7 billion a year and has wider costs such as productivity losses from ill health and absenteeism.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agricultural Wages

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on this year's Agricultural Wages Board announcement.

Alun Michael: The Agricultural Wages Board is an independent body and the Agricultural Wages Act 1948 gives the Secretary of State no authority to intervene in, or seek to influence, Board decisions. Its decisions are announced by public notices in the farming press and by a press release whose wording is agreed by the Chairman of the Board and the leaders of the two sides (the lead representative of the National Farmers Union and the Transport and General Workers Union). In view of this it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the outcome of the recent pay negotiations.

Arable Farmers

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the difficulties facing arable farmers in the UK following the poor weather this summer;
	(2)  if she will compensate arable farmers badly affected by this summer's bad weather.

Alun Michael: Our latest assessment is that this year's harvest is now largely complete, despite very substantial delays and difficulties in many parts of the country as a result of the extremely wet weather during the summer. Total yield is likely to be higher than last year, when output fell because of excessive heat and drought. But the majority of crops will be of poorer quality than expected, reducing farmers' returns in a weaker market, in addition to more expensive field and drying operations. There will also be some knock-on effects in relation to plantings and establishment of following crops.
	Having considered the position very carefully in close contact with farmers' representatives and following discussions between my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, and the NFU President on 16 September, it has been concluded that it would be more effective to devote special efforts to making full payments in the worst affected areas at the start of the payment window on 16 November, rather than attempting to make partial payments a few weeks earlier that would have to be topped-up in a separate operation later. The areas in question are likely to include Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, North and East Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire.
	We are continuing to work closely with farming organisations to ensure the most effective targeting of these efforts and to explore other ways in which existing schemes and resources can be used to help to mitigate the problems that we accept many arable farmers are facing.

Automotive Emissions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what emissions level has been established for the automotive sector in the UK National Allocation Plan; and what this represents as a proportion of actual emissions in 2002.

Elliot Morley: The UK National Allocation Plan, which was submitted to the European Commission on 30 April 2004 provided provisional sector-level allocations. Government have always made it clear that the allocations would be revisited in the light of updated emissions projections; verification of baseline data; and the inclusion of additional installations. The overall level of allowances to be set in the Final Allocation Decision will be reviewed in the light of these changes. In the April National Allocation Plan the automotive sector is included in the engineering and vehicles sector, which was given an indicative annual allocation of one million tonnes of CO 2 . This figure is 100 per cent. of the actual emissions reported in 2002.
	Government aim to publish a revised list of installation-level allocations later in the year. Following this there will be a period where industry will have the opportunity to correct any errors of fact prior to the final allocation decision.

Biodiesel

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what licences are needed by farmers producing biodiesel by processing used cooking oil.

Elliot Morley: A pollution prevention control permit is required for the esterification of used (waste) or virgin cooking oils in chemical plant to produce biodiesel. A waste management licence is required for the commercial filtering of waste vegetable oils to produce biodiesel.
	Unless the used cooking oil was agricultural waste, a farmer would be subject to these controls.
	Agricultural waste is currently excluded from the waste management licensing regime under section 75 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Agricultural waste is any substance or object from premises used for agriculture which the holder discards or intends to discard.

Bovine TB

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle tested positive for tuberculosis in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: 18,676 1 cattle were removed and slaughtered under TB control measures during the period 1 August 200331 July 2004.
	1 Provisional data, as downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database 16 September 2004. The figure includes animals which reacted to the tuberculin test and those which showed an inconclusive reaction to the test on three occasions.

British Cattle Movement Service

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the British Cattle Movement Service cost in each year since 2000.

Alun Michael: The costs of running the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) which runs the Cattle Tracing System, in each year since 2000 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200001 13.40 
			 200102 14.24 
			 200203 15.79 
			 200304(28) 15.39 
			 200405 (29)14.50 
		
	
	(28) The BCMS merged with the Rural Payments Agency on 1 April 2003.
	(29) Projection to year end.

British Cattle Movement Service

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle passport (a) applications and (b) movement notifications were (i) received late, (ii) received late but accepted on compassionate or other grounds and (iii) received late and rejected in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Alun Michael: No cattle movement notification made to the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) have ever been rejected because they were late.
	All calf birth registrations received by BCMS are now, and have always been, fully processed and the animals entered onto the national database, no matter how late they have arrived.
	The total number of birth registrations received late in each of the last five years has been:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 177,862 
			 2001 188,509 
			 2002 212,998 
			 2003 202,395 
			 2004 22,415 
		
	
	The number of late birth registrations in respect of which full cattle passports were refused over the last five years were 13,448 animals between 1 January 1999 and 20 November 2003, and 25,746 animals between 20 November 2003 and 3 September 2004.
	Of these cases, 7,616 and 4,998 animals respectively have had passports issued for them so far after appeals have been considered. These figures cannot be broken down into individual calendar years.
	The BCMS merged with the Rural Payments Agency on 1 April 2003.

British Cattle Movement Service

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the operation of the cattle passport scheme.

Alun Michael: The cattle passport scheme is operated by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) which became part of the Rural Payments Agency from the 1 April 2003. The cattle passport scheme has been in operation since 1996 and the national cattle database contains the details of the 9.9 million animals that make up the national herd.
	The BCMS operates to ISO 9001:2000 standards, is registered with the British Standards Institute and its operating practices have received the Kite mark. In addition to paper reporting systems, BCMS have provided a call centre and online facilities via a website for cattle keepers to use. The BCMS is constantly striving to improve its service and efficiency.

BSE

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence she has collated that BSE exists in British cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: BSE was identified in British cattle by the Central Veterinary Laboratory in November 1986. The disease is defined on the basis of its clinical history and the characteristic pathological changes that occur in the brain. Cases of the disease in Britain are confirmed by veterinary pathologists on brain tissue from suspect animals. Biochemical screening tests for the diagnosis of BSE from brain samples are also recognised within the EU and by the International Office for Animal Health.
	The occurrence of BSE in British cattle has been rigorously monitored using these methods since 1987. The numbers of cases collated are recorded on a graph which will be made available in the Library of the House.
	Further information on the disease and statistics in Britain can be found on the Defra website at: www. defra.gov.uk/animalhealthwelfare/BSE/statistics/BSE statistics www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealthwelfare/BSE/publications/progressreport

BSE

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many BSE cases there were in 2003; and in cattle of what ages.

Ben Bradshaw: For Great Britain there were 547 confirmed cases of BSE in 2003 in cattle of the following age groupings:
	
		
			 Age (months) Total number of cases 
		
		
			 48 1 
			 4853 3 
			 5459 5 
			 6065 10 
			 6671 7 
			 7277 3 
			 7883 8 
			 8489 27 
			 9095 40 
			 96101 69 
			 102107 58 
			 108113 57 
			 114119 48 
			 120125 43 
			 126131 34 
			 132137 28 
			 138143 16 
			 ~144 90 
			 Total 2003 547

BSE

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle born after (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002 and (e) 2003 have contracted BSE.

Ben Bradshaw: In the UK there have been 12 confirmed cases of BSE in cattle born in 1999 and one case born in 2000. No cases have as yet been confirmed in cattle born after 2000.

BSE

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the passport system has (a) prevented BSE and (b) been used to collect evidence of the age of cattle likely to be affected.

Alun Michael: The introduction of Cattle Passports improved our ability to check the movement of animals during their lives, which makes it possible to trace animals potentially exposed to a disease risk such as the offspring and cohorts of BSE cases, and to trace the potential sources of infection.
	Cattle passports have played an important role in identifying cattle that are required to be tested under the EU's BSE surveillance programme. This programme has enabled us to gain a more detailed understanding of BSE epidemiology, notably its prevalence across various age groups. This has allowed the monitoring of the beneficial effects of the control measures applied and, most importantly, facilitated our submission to the European Commission for moderate risk status for the UK.

Cattle Passports/Registration

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have missed the deadline for cattle registration; and how many animals this affects.

Alun Michael: The number of late cattle registrations and the number of keepers that these figures represent are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Total applications Total late applications Percentage late Keepers missing deadline(30) 
		
		
			 1999 2,993,238 90,854 3.0 31,656 
			 2000 3,056,014 177,862 5.8 61,973 
			 2001 2,998,238 188,509 6.3 65,683 
			 2002 2,885,188 212,998 7.4 74,215 
			 2003 2,952,404 202,395 6.9 70,521 
			 2004(31) 2,135,982 22,415 1.0 7,810 
		
	
	(30) Exact Figures for individual keepers are not available. The average number of animals in an appeal for 200304 is 2.87. We have used this to estimate keeper figures for earlier years.
	(31) Figures up to 3 September 2004.

Cattle Passports/Registration

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what scope the Government have to allow late registration of cattle under EU rules;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to review the policy on cattle registration.

Alun Michael: The EU Regulations governing the identification and tracing of cattle require birth notifications of cattle to be made within 27 days of birth. There is no scope to extend the deadline beyond 27 days. We do not think that 27 days is an unreasonable deadline, bearing in mind the need for accurate and timely data if we are to manage disease outbreaks such as foot and mouth disease. The penalties to be applied in respect of late notifications are at the discretion of Member States.
	Our current policy of refusing passports for late applications was introduced with the agreement of the industry and has been successful in reducing the number of late registrations of cattle from 6.9 per cent. to 1 per cent.. In light of the industry's concerns my officials are reviewing the existing enforcement arrangements, but any change must maintain the level of improvement we have achieved so far.

Cattle Vaccinations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of cattle herds are vaccinated against (a) bovine viral diarrhoea and (b) leptospirosis.

Ben Bradshaw: Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and leptospirosis are not notifiable diseases. However VLA publishes quarterly reports which looks at herd prevalence, through analysis of bulk milk serology in dairy herds, in respect of BVD and leptospirosis which are available to view on their website.
	Information on the numbers of animals vaccinated is not held by Defra or by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA).
	All veterinary medicinal products are assessed for their safety, quality and efficacy before being authorised for sale in the UK.
	There are three Bovine Viral Diarrhoea virus (BVDV) vaccines authorised in the UK for cattle to protect adult cattle against infection or to protect the foetus against transplacental infections caused by BVDV.
	There are two Bovine Leptospirosis vaccines authorised in the UK to project cattle against leptospirosis caused by Leptospira borgpeterserenii serovar hardjo and/or Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo.

Cattle Vaccinations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of breeding cows are vaccinated against (a) calf scour and (b) pneumonia.

Ben Bradshaw: Calf Scour and pneumonia are not notifiable diseases. Information on the numbers of animals vaccinated is not held by Defra or by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA).
	All veterinary medicinal products are assessed for their safety, quality and efficacy before being authorised for sale in the UK.
	There are five Calf scour vaccines authorised in the UK to protect calves against various disease pathogens that could produce diarrhoea in young animals. These vaccines provide protection against bovine rotavirus (BRV), bovine corona virus (BCV) and Escherichia coli.
	There are 14 Calf pneumonia vaccines authorised in the UK to protect calves against various respiratory disease pathogens including Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Bovine Parainfluenza virus (P13), Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica, Bovine Respiratory Syncytial virus (BRSV), Bovine Viral Diarrhoea virus (BVDV).

CITES

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many exotic animals have been imported into the UK in each of the last 10 years, broken down by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species listed species.

Elliot Morley: CITES listed species are placed into one of three appendices.
	Appendix Iendangered species threatened and therefore prohibited from commercial trade;
	Appendix IIvulnerable species that may become endangered unless trade is strictly regulated; and
	Appendix IIIspecies which are protected in a particular range state, for which the co-operation of other CITES Parties is required to ensure that the trade is lawful.
	The following table shows the numbers of live animals imported into the UK by each CITES Appendix. (Current records commenced in 1997).
	
		
			  Appendix Number 
		
		
			 1997 I 58 
			  II 25,939 
			  III 1,665 
			
			 1998 I 103 
			  II 46,784 
			  III 1 
			
			 1999 I 152 
			  II 43,354 
			  III 0 
			
			 2000 I 161 
			  II 60,874 
			  III 81 
			
			 2001 I 91 
			  II 65,039 
			  III 51 
			
			 2002 I 124 
			  II 74,528 
			  III 67 
			
			 2003 I 99 
			  II 82,730 
			  III 68 
			
			 2004 I 57 
			  II 17,724 
			  III 70 
		
	
	There are various possible reasons for the increase. For example,
	increased numbers may reflect new listings, some of which (e.g.sea horses) may be imported in large quantities;
	wildlife trade is dynamic, and trends over time may reflect diverse factors such as policy decisions in exporting countries, traders gaining access to new sources of supply, market forces, and the actions of CITES.
	Trade patterns are monitored quarterly by JNCC, and worrying trends identified. Individual applications are also scrutinised and may be refused if they are considered to be detrimental to the species concerned (thus leading to consideration by the EU Scientific Review Group as to whether action to limit such trade is required).

CITES

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the proposal by Australia at the next Convention on Trade in Endangered Species Conference of the Parties to list the great white shark on Appendix II with zero quota.

Elliot Morley: I understand that Australia has now decided to withdraw its proposal for a zero quota and I am pleased to confirm that both the UK and the EU member states are happy to support an Appendix II listing for the great white shark.

Cormorants

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the population of cormorants; what assessment she has made of trends in the change in population over recent years; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Seabird 2000 and the Wetland Bird Survey provide current estimates for the cormorant population in Great Britain of 8,470 breeding pairs and 23,000 wintering individuals. Winter cormorant abundance is estimated to have increased by 70 per cent. between 1989 and 2001.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications she has received for areas to be designated under Schedule 6 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; how many have been approved; and how many footpaths have been (a) closed and (b) diverted on the grounds of crime prevention as a result.

Alun Michael: We have received 23 applications for designation since the legislation came into force in February 2002. Twenty have been approved covering 72 areas in England. Of the remaining three applications, two were withdrawn and one is still pending. We are currently waiting for that authority to provide additional evidence in support of its application.
	Since the 72 areas were designated, eighteen orders have been made under new section 118b of the Highways Act 1980 to close rights of way to prevent crime. So far, two of these have resulted in highways being closed. Another sixteen orders are awaiting confirmation by the local highway authority or Secretary of State. We are not aware of any diversion orders as yet.

Departmental Costs

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of printing the Department's headed notepaper in (a) 199697 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: Defra was formed in 2001. Electronic templates have been used to create headed notepaper as needed so the Department does not use printed headed notepaper.
	The information for 199697 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Costs

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much the Department and its predecessors spent on (a) mobile phones, (b) hospitality and (c) taxis in (i) 199697 and (ii) the latest accounting period;
	(2)  how much her Department spent on (a) mobile phone costs, (b) hospitality and (c) taxis in (i) 199697 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: Defra's spend on mobile phones in 200304 was 666,000. Information for 199697 could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Information on hospitality was given in my answer of 20 May 2004, Official Report column 1109W. We do not hold information on travel by taxi centrally and this could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Paper (Recycling)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the Department's redundant documentation, waste paper and card is recycled; and if she will make a statement on the Department's paper recycling policy.

Elliot Morley: It is not possible to give a figure for the proportion of redundant documentation in waste paper and card that is recycled. We do not collect data on the total amount of this material within Defra. Paper recycling facilities are in place at virtually all Defra buildings, but some accept newspapers and other types of paper waste.
	We continue to increase the proportion of our total waste that is recycled or recovered each year and paper waste forms a large percentage of this. In 200304 Defra's total waste arising was 4,689 metric tons, of which 55 per cent. was recycled or recovered. Recycled paper constituted 16 per cent. of the Department's total waste and 61 per cent. of its recycled waste by weight.
	The Department is developing a sustainable waste management strategy aimed at reducing the total amount of waste produced and increasing the proportion that is recycled. Paper recycling will be an important part of this strategy.

Farming

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she next plans to meet the National Farmers' Union to discuss the Government's plans for the farming industry.

Margaret Beckett: My ministerial team and I have numerous meetings with the National Farmers' Union covering many different subjects.

Fisheries

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to meet (a) her French Government counterparts and (b) the EU Fisheries Commissioner to discuss (i) cetacean strandings in the English Channel and (ii) the future of pair trawling for bass.

Ben Bradshaw: Officials have already met with the European Commission to explore their recent statement of commitment to co-operate with the UK and other member states to find an effective solution to the cetacean by-catch problem. The technical meeting referred to in their response to the UK closure request is already being arranged and will allow the UK to present its findings in the bass fishery to other member states. The UK and the Commission will build on this sharing of knowledge to progress discussion on the problem and investigate possible mitigation measures.
	As this process develops, I will take every opportunity to seek to persuade my counterparts in all member states, and the Commission, of the need for further action in this area.

Flooding

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish publications and reports (a) undertaken by, (b) commissioned by and (c) undertaken in collaboration with her Department on flooding over the last five years.

Elliot Morley: Recent reports undertaken or commissioned by Defra are available through the Defra website, including all research reports published since January 2003. Earlier reports are available on request.
	Where Defra has been a collaborator in a project then the information will often be referenced on the Defra website but detailed arrangements for publication and dissemination will generally rest with the organisation responsible for leading the work.

Ghost Ships

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the continued presence of the four ghost ships at Hartlepool; and under what legal basis they remain there;
	(2)  for what reason the weather window afforded by summer has not been used to return the four ghost ships at Hartlepool to the US;
	(3)  if she will set out the options she has assessed for the future of the four ghost ships, currently docked at Hartlepool, indicating the (a) timeline and (b) decision-making process that applies to these options.

Elliot Morley: The future of the four US ships at Teesside is primarily a matter for the US Marine Administration, as owners of the vessels, and Able UK, who are intending to seek the necessary permissions for dismantling the vessels at their Teesside facility.
	The four US ships are currently docked in Able UK's Graythorp dock on Teesside. The necessary permissions are being sought by Able UK for dismantling to take place at this location. Relevant applications will be considered and the outcome will depend upon the relevant regulators.
	Dismantling work is prevented and the dock facility is subject to regular inspection by the Environment Agency in liaison with the Health and Safety Executive. The results of environmental monitoring indicate that storage of the four US naval ships at the Graythorp dock has not had a detrimental impact or posed a significant threat to the environment or human health.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) the advantages and (b) the disadvantages of genetically-modified crops to developing countries.

Elliot Morley: This is a matter for the Department for International Development.

Horticulture

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the budget for (a) research and development in and (b) marketing support to the horticulture industry was in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: The Department's annual budget for research and development on horticulture and potatoes in England and Wales for the budget years 199798 to 200405 was as set out in the following table. In 200405 an additional 2,250,000 was set aside to support the guarantees provided to the University of Warwick and East Mailing Research following the restructuring of Horticulture Research International.
	
		
			 Financial year RD 
		
		
			 199798 12,202,000 
			 199899 12,273,000 
			 19992000 11,069,000 
			 200001 11,021,000 
			 200102 10,807,000 
			 200203 9,804,000 
			 200304 9,845,000 
			 200405 9,422,000 
		
	
	There is no specific budget for marketing support to the horticulture industry but grants of 421,000 and 498,000 respectively were made to the industry under the Agricultural Development Scheme in 2000 and 2003. The industry also benefits from EU payments to producer organisations under the fresh fruit and vegetables regime of the common agricultural policy.

Irrawaddy Dolphin

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to support the proposal at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Conference of the Parties 13 in Bangkok on 2 to 14 October to list the Irrawaddy dolphin in Appendix 1; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Although the UK had some initial reservations about the trade and population data, I am pleased to report that we have now decided that an Appendix 1 listing is in the best interest of this species. We therefore fully support the current EU position of support for the proposed listing, subject to the views of the Range States.

Lions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking (a) to secure the future of breeding conditions for lions existing in the wild and (b) to preserve the lion from extinction.

Elliot Morley: It is the responsibility of the relevant range states to take appropriate action to secure the long-term future of the lion, as only they have the power to intervene directly in this matter.
	However, we will continue to utilise our role within the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to press for collaborative action to ensure that the lion does not become endangered as a result of unsustainable trade in hunting trophies or for any other reason.

Litter

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department's litter guidance policy has affected the residents of Leyton and Wanstead.

Elliot Morley: We are constantly looking at developing policy to enable local authorities to tackle litter more effectively, not just in Leyton and Wanstead but all over the country.
	Local authorities have a statutory duty, set out in part 4 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to deal with litter in their area. We have set out the recommended cleansing times in the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse. We are currently reviewing the Code with a view to consulting on a revised Code in the new year.
	In addition the Government provide funding to EnCams to raise awareness of a number of issues that affect the quality of the local environment, including litter. EnCams, formerly known as the Tidy Britain Group are an environmental charity and have over 50 years experience of campaigning to raise awareness of litter.
	We have just concluded a consultation exercise on Clean Neighbourhoods that proposed a range of measures to improve the ability of local authorities to respond to litter and other issues affecting public space. Once we have analysed the comments received we hope to bring forward legislation at the earliest opportunity.

Milk Industry

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent Milk Development Council report on the situation prevailing in the milk industry.

Alun Michael: We are still considering the findings of the report and hope that it will prove a useful step in helping to improve transparency in the dairy supply chain, which was a key recommendation in the recent EFRA committee report on milk pricing.

Ministerial Statements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason all ministerial statements made by her Department are not published on the Departmental website as a matter of course on the day of their publication.

Alun Michael: We appreciate that there is a need for considerable improvement in the Defra website. Work is in hand on this.
	Statements by Defra's Ministers are published on the departmental website as soon as possiblegenerally on the same day or the following day. We are reviewing our procedures to minimise the number of occasions when it is not possible for statements to be published on the same day.

New Homes (Water Prices)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the Deputy Prime Minister's plans to build new homes upon water prices.

Elliot Morley: It is for water and sewerage undertakers to plan the provision they need to make for new development. Where new development takes place, the costs of connecting water and sewerage services are largely financed by the developers and the revenue streams from newly connected customers.
	Where the growth of customer demand, whether from new or existing customers, cannot be addressed from existing supplies by measures such as demand management, leakage control and water efficiency, undertakers may propose new resources or infrastructure. If the case for this is accepted by Ofwat, the costs would be taken into account when setting price limits. Ofwat published its draft determinations of price limits for the period 200510 in August 2004. It will make its final decisions on 2 December 2004. There are well-established arrangements for dealing with cost pressures which arise between price reviews.

New Variant CJD

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence has been found of a link between cattle born in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003, and new cases of nvCJD.

Ben Bradshaw: Evidence of a link between BSE in cattle and nvCJD (now known as vCJD) in humans is based on the close similarities in disease patterns in mice infected with BSE and vCJD.
	Although BSE has been confirmed in one cow born in the UK in 2000, no cases have yet been confirmed in cattle born after this date. There is still a great deal of uncertainty about the range of duration of the incubation period for vCJD, but there is evidence that it is substantial. Therefore, there is unlikely to be a direct link between BSE in cattle born in or after 2000 and any recent cases of vCJD.
	Specified risk materials such as brain and spinal cord must be removed from all cattle carcases. If cattle were to be infected with BSE, this is estimated to remove over 99 per cent. of infectivity.

Nuclear Waste

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to allow further imports of nuclear waste into the UK.

Elliot Morley: Government policy on the import of radioactive waste remains as set out in the White Paper Review of Radioactive Waste Management PolicyFinal Conclusions, Cm 2919. The general policy is that radioactive waste should not be imported to or exported from the UK except in certain specific circumstances. These include: (1) recycling to recover useful materials; (2) treatment to make subsequent storage or disposal of the waste more manageable, in cases where the processes are at a developmental stage or the quantities involved too small for the processes to be practicable in the country of origin; (3) spent sources manufactured in the UK and returned for recycling or disposal; and (4) waste from small users such as hospitals, situated in EU member states that have such small waste arisings that provision of their own facilities would be impractical, or in developing countries that could not reasonably be expected to acquire suitable disposal facilities.
	All proposed imports of radioactive waste into the UK are subject to prior approval by the relevant competent authority, under the provisions of The Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste Regulations 1993.

Over-30 Month Cattle Scheme

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent compensating for cattle of (a) three, (b) four, (c) five, (d) six, (e) , seven, (f) eight, (g) nine and (i) 10 and over years in each year since 2000.

Alun Michael: The amounts spent on compensation in regard to cattle for each of the requested ages in each year since 2000 are set out in the table.
	
		
			   million 
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 1 
		
		
			 30mths-3yrs 18.163 15.234 17.828 13.510 6.708 
			 Up to 4 yrs 29.722 25.334 30.175 25.595 13.481 
			 Up to 5 yrs 25.193 22.643 28.837 25.404 14.980 
			 Up to 6 yrs 23.752 22.081 27.369 24.620 14.522 
			 Up to 7 yrs 20.551 22.417 26.092 23.688 13.641 
			 Up to 8 yrs 16.938 20.729 27.430 22.427 12.428 
			 Up to 9 yrs 12.546 15.198 22.464 20.501 10.350 
			 Up to 10 yrs 9.982 12.829 17.952 17.873 10.088 
			 Over 1 0 yrs 18.225 25.510 37.340 39.784 22.789 
			 Teeth(33) 78.173 14.486 0 0 0 
		
	
	(32) To 31 August.
	(33) Teeth has been included as prior to registration on the Cattle Tracing System becoming mandatory in 2001, whether an animal was over thirty months of age or not could only be ascertained using the established industry practice of assessing the number of teeth the animal had.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that the percentage of questions tabled for a named day reply answered by that day increases.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to my earlier answer to him of 29 April 2004, Official Report, column 1203W.

PFI/PPP Contracts

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contracts her Department had with (a) Barclays, (b) Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 200102; and what fees were paid in each case.

Alun Michael: From analysis of information held centrally, no contracts have been let and fees paid by the Department in each financial year since 200102 to Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, UBS Warburg or Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts.

Rural Payments Agency

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a second wave of expressions of interest in voluntary exit from the Rural Payments Agency will be offered on similar terms to the first wave; and how many staff in each location took advantage of the first wave terms.

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is committed to reducing the number of posts as part of its change programme which includes the implementation of the changes resulting from CAP reform. It has already ceased operations at three sites and a further two sites will be vacated in 2005.
	Staff at those sites that are to remain open have been invited to express an interest in voluntary exit from the RPA to take effect by the end of 2006. They are being offered voluntary redundancy on compulsory terms.
	The number of staff who have expressed an interest is broken down by location as follows.
	
		
			 Location Number of staff 
		
		
			 Newcastle 63 
			 Carlisle 22 
			 Exeter 66 
			 Northallerton 31 
			 Reading (including outstations) 222 
		
	
	There will be at least one further round of invitations for voluntary exit. This will target specific locations, grades and times linked to transition plans now being finalised.

Rural Payments Agency

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions in 200304 decisions were taken by the Rural Payments Agency to recover wrongfully made payments to farmers; and if she will list the 20 greatest sums involved.

Alun Michael: In the 200304 year the Rural Payments Agency has taken action to recover 299 payments that had resulted from administrative errors. The total value of these payments was 392,844.96 with the 20 greatest sums being:
	
		
			  Value of payments () 
		
		
			  44,259.45 
			  37,562.39 
			  26,637.11 
			  26,506.15 
			  19,839.00 
			  16,800.07 
			  13,329.78 
			  12,124.00 
			  10,580.07 
			  8,963.00 
			  8,931.65 
			  5,699.96 
			  5,491.16 
			  5,049.57 
			  4,637.67 
			  4,395.56 
			  4,023.00 
			  3,612.88 
			  3,552.37 
			  3,465.03 
			 Total 265,459.87

Rural Payments Agency

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints were received from farmers by the Rural Payments Agency in 200304; and of those, how many (a) complained about the time taken to process claims and (b) elicited the response that claims by farmers had not been received.

Alun Michael: The number of complaints dealt with under the RPA's complaints procedure in 2003 and 2004 are set out below, these have been broken down into complaints regarding Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) and non-IACS schemes.
	
		
			 Schemes 2003 2004 
		
		
			 IACS 134 113 
			 Non-IACS 21 25 
			 Total 155 138 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures for calendar years.
	2. 2004 figures as of 13 September.
	The RPA could not extrapolate the data required to break these figures down into the requested categories without incurring disproportionate costs.

Scrapped Cars

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's estimate is of the number of cars in the UK scrapped each week; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Estimates for numbers of abandoned vehicles removed and destroyed are compiled from the Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey. The estimates (310,100 for 200203) are collected on a yearly basis only.

Veterinary Services

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of current (a) levels of preventable disease in UK farm livestock and (b) the provision of large animal veterinary services.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The Veterinary Laboratories Agency and Scottish Agricultural College publish the following disease surveillance reports:
	Monthly disease surveillance reports in the Veterinary Record;
	Annual national disease surveillance report (known as the VIDA report);
	Annual report on Salmonella in livestock production; and
	Contributions to the annual UK Zoonoses Report
	In addition, the VLA produces quarterly retrospective reports for each of the major livestock species which are published on their website. These reports give a continuous indication of current levels of disease in UK farm livestock.
	The concept of 'preventable' disease is complex and depends on 'cost and benefit' analyses as well as inherent characteristics of the various diseases. The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Defra Publication No. PB9469 (published June 2004) and the UK Veterinary Surveillance Strategy Defra Publication No. PB8296 (published October 2003) describe a range of measures which are being implemented in partnership with stakeholders, in order to bring about a sustainable improvement in the overall health and welfare of our farmed livestock.
	(b) Earlier this year we commissioned a report to investigate the issues surrounding the supply and demand of large animal vets. While there is much concern expressed about the closure of some rural practices and the future availability of veterinarians, there is also very clear evidence that many graduates are attracted to large animal work. We are committed to regularly monitoring the supply and retention of large animal veterinary surgeons in partnership with the RCVS to ensure that the profession can play a full and effective part in the implementation of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy.

Veterinary Services

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the non-legislative guidance issued by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons precluding veterinary surgeons from offering their services to farmers with existing arrangements for emergency and clinical care of livestock; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The current guide to professional conduct issued by the Royal College does not preclude veterinary surgeons offering their services to farmers with existing arrangements for emergency and clinical care of livestock.
	The Guidance for veterinary surgeons who are approached by new clients states:
	Although both veterinary surgeon and client have freedom of choice, as a matter of professional courtesy and in the interests of the welfare of the animals involved a veterinary surgeon should not knowingly take over a colleague's case without informing the colleague in question and obtaining a clinical history.
	When an animal is initially presented a veterinary surgeon must ask whether it is already receiving treatment, and if so, when it was last seen, and then contact the original veterinary surgeon for a case history. It should be made clear to the client that this is necessary in the interests of the patient. If the client refuses to provide this information the case should be declined.
	In an emergency it is acceptable to make an initial assessment, and administer any essential treatment before contacting the original veterinary surgeon.
	The Guidance for veterinary surgeons with mutual clients states:
	Where different veterinary surgeons are treating the same group of animals, each may supply medicines for administration to those animals. Each must, however, keep the other informed of any examinations of the animals, relevant clinical information and medicines supplied or prescribed, so as to avoid any danger that might arise from conflicting advice or adverse reactions arising from unsuitable combinations of medicines.
	Even where two veterinary surgeons are treating different groups of animals owned by the same client, it is still advisable for each to keep the other informed of any problem which might affect their work.

Warm Front

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in Mitcham and Morden have benefited from the Home Energy Efficiency and Warm Front Schemes; and how much has been paid in grants (a) on average and (b) in total.

Elliot Morley: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme is now marketed as Warm Front.
	Since the beginning of the scheme in June 2000, approximately 1,360 households have been assisted, with a total expenditure of approximately 934,000 and an average grant of 684.

Watermark Project

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has joined the Watermark project.

Alun Michael: Yes. Defra joined the Watermark project in September 2001. In September 2002 additional sites were included on the project. The majority of Defra office sites are now covered by the Watermark project.
	The project was established in 1999 by OGC buying solutions, to develop benchmarking and management information on water consumption across the public sector. The service includes online access to a computerised database containing benchmarks for different types of building to help public sector organisations compare consumption rates and develop realistic targets for reducing usage.
	Defra does not use the Watermark data collection service, as it has had its own database on water consumption for some years. However we have made good use of the benchmarking service and a number of site surveys to establish water saving measures.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Disabled Facilities Grant

David Cameron: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review, in conjunction with other departments, the operation of the disabled facilities grant.

Keith Hill: In response to a parliamentary question on 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 1, my right hon. Friend the Lord Rooker announced a review of the disabled facilities grant programme.
	This review is now under way. Its terms of reference are to review the operation and outcomes of the disabled facilities grant programme and to make proposals to improve the efficiency and fairness of the provision of housing adaptations for disabled people.
	A Steering Group has been established comprising officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills. The group also includes a wide range of experts from outside organisations involved with delivering housing adaptations and representatives of disabled people. A research study has also been commissioned from the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol to support the Group's work.
	The Group will report to Ministers in May 2005.

Castle Point Borough Council

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for how long he has placed a head official from his Department in Castle Point borough council; and if he will list the names and job titles of the head official's direct support team.

Nick Raynsford: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has appointed a lead official, Anne-Marie Carrie, to work with Castle Point borough council. This appointment was made in July this year and is not for a fixed period. The lead official is supported by staff from the Local Government Practice Team of the Government Office for the East of England.

Council Housing

Ken Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council-owned dwellings under arm's length management organisation supervision have been brought up to the decent homes standard; and what the average cost is of such work in each region.

Keith Hill: Returns from local authorities and Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) that have qualified for additional funding in Rounds one and two of the ALMO programme show a reduction of 43,000 in the number of homes that fail the Decent Homes standard between October 2002 and June 2004.
	Work by ALMOs to bring homes up to the Decent Homes standard are funded from local authorities' existing resources and their additional ALMO funding. The extent and nature of the work required depends on the condition of each authority's stock and other local circumstances. The following estimates of the overall unit costs of such work are derived from data and forecasts from authorities in Rounds one and two of the ALMO programme and cannot be regarded as representative, especially where they are based on a sample of one or two ALMOs.
	
		Forecast expenditure by Round one and two ALMOs to bring homes up to the Decent Homes standard
		
			 Region Cost per unit () ALMOs in sample 
		
		
			 East Midlands 14,600 2 
			 London 16,200 5 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 13,900 4 
			 North West 11,600 4 
			 North East 8,200 2 
			 South West 9,800 1 
			 East 5,600 1

Council Housing

Ken Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by what date all council-owned dwellings will meet the decent homes standard if the current rate of progress is maintained.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is on course to meet this target by the end December 2010.

Council Housing

Ken Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by what date he expects all council housing departments to reach the two star rating needed to qualify for additional borrowing powers.

Keith Hill: Local authorities can qualify for additional borrowing for expenditure on Decent Homes by setting up Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) to manage and improve their housing stock. It is the ALMO that needs a two or three star rating from the Audit Commission to secure this additional funding. Of the 49 operational or proposed Arms Length Management Organisations on Rounds one to four the programme, 24 have already achieved a two or three star rating. Inspections of the others are scheduled to report between now and early 2006. Future Arms Length Management Organisations must achieve at least two stars within two years of becoming operational to qualify for additional funding.

Departmental Energy Efficiency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on energy efficiency in his Department's buildings.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is fully committed to improving the energy efficiency of the buildings on its estate. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has recently published their Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate energy targets, which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has formally adopted as its own targets. Progress on these will be monitored on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's externally accredited Environmental Management System.

Domestic Violence (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding is available for work with perpetrators of domestic violence in Leeds.

Keith Hill: There are currently two projects in the Leeds area that deal with perpetrators of domestic violence. These are the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP) and the STOP project.
	The Government take extremely seriously the effects that domestic violence has on the lives of victims. To help tackle this abhorrent crime the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill, was introduced on the 14 June 2004. This represents a radical overhaul in domestic violence legislation. This bill will ensure that victims get the help and protection they need. There will also be a victims fund that will put money into practical services that will help victims. Indeed 4 million from the proceeds of crime has already been dedicated.

E-Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much expenditure his Department has allocated in each year since its establishment for public relations, marketing and publicity costs on e-government; and which external firms his Department has employed in relation to such activity.

Phil Hope: No separate allocation has been made for public relations, marketing or publicity costs on e-government. However, some of the funding from the local e-government programme has been allocated to support the dissemination of the products from the 23 National Projects, all led by individual local authorities, which have developed generic products and guidance on aspects of local e-government for all other authorities to use.
	In addition, the London borough of Newham is acting as the lead authority on a project to provide a co-ordinated rollout of all the National Projects. The total budget for this project is 5.3 million. To help the authority carry out this work, the London borough of Newham has recently let a number of framework contracts to two private sector consultancies, Kaizo and Fishburn Hedges, to assist them to develop the communications strategy. These contracts were wrongly reported in the press as having been awarded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Fire Safety

Helen Clark: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes he plans to make to the level of advice produced on house fire safety.

Phil Hope: Government home fire safety information and advice is widely disseminated and promoted in England and Wales through the campaigns of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's National Community Fire Safety Centre. The campaigns are developed in partnership with the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) and are kept under constant review.

Fire Safety

Helen Clark: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of employing consultants to deal with elements of work currently undertaken by staff in relation to fire safety (a) has been in this financial year and (b) is expected to be in 200506.

Nick Raynsford: Staff, consultants and researchers are employed on a wide variety of projects connected to fire safety, for example in relation to home fire safety advertising campaigns, the revision of building regulations' Approved Document B, the preparation of guidance on the implementation of the Regulatory Reform Order, behavioural research and the evaluation of policy. The mix varies between project and project, and from time to time. The requested comparison could be made only at disproportionate cost.

Firebuy

Ann Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what strategy his Department has set in place for companies not currently within the Fire Service Procurement Association to be included in FiReBuy.

Phil Hope: EU Tender regulations and conditions of contract do not allow a re-engagement of any company who is currently outside the contractual arrangements without returning to a tender process. Current contracts, and the contract terms held by Fire Service Procurement Agency (FSPA), would be carried over and continue to operate under FiReBuy. Once the current contracts and their terms cease, any company would be eligible to re-tender along with other suppliers.

Firelink Communications System

Jim Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the timetable for the remaining stages of the procurement and roll-out of the Firelink communications system.

Nick Raynsford: As a result of a review of the project plan and timetable, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to award the Firelink contract around the end of this financial year, and to complete roll-out during 2008.

Fires (Deaths)

Tom Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many deaths in fires there have been in residential properties in the Greater London area in each of the last three years.

Nick Raynsford: The number of deaths in dwellings fires in the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority area are set out as follows:
	
		Deaths reported in dwelling fires attended by the London Fire Bridgade
		
			 200103 
		
		
			 2001 68 
			 2002 56 
			 2003 (34)62 
		
	
	(34) (provisional figure)

Fraud

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate his Department has made of the cost of fraud to (a) his Department, (b) the Executive agencies affiliated to his Department and (c) the Government offices of the regions in each of the last three years.

Phil Hope: Losses due to fraud in each financial year since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created are as follows:
	
		
			 
			 Financial year The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (C) Executive agencies Regional Co-ordination Unit/Government offices 
		
		
			 200203 8,592 0 134,117 
			 200304 3,622 200 252,875 
			 200405 0 0 0 
		
	
	With regards to thefts, mainly of assets, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 27 July 2004, Official Report, column 751W. The figures include losses due to fraud by staff and external parties. The amounts for the Co-ordination Unit/Government offices include only those losses for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is accountable for. The Government offices are sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and nine other Departments, any losses on programmes delivered on behalf of the other Departments will have been reported to them. Recoveries from perpetrators have been netted off. Some incidents are still under investigation and final values may change.

Gypsies/Travellers

John Battle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2004, Official Report, column 1501W, on gypsies/travellers, whether his Department's review of gypsy and traveller policy has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's review of gypsy and traveller policy is nearing completion. Ministers will wish to consider the review's findings before making any further announcements.

Highway Installations

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the categories of commercial organisations which are permitted to place installations on the highway;
	(2)  if he will require commercial organisations which are permitted to place installations on the highway to pay local authorities for such use; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 makes it an offence to obstruct a highway without lawful authority. The footway is part of a highway.
	However, local authorities may license the following to be placed on or over the highway, and in each case there is provision for authorities to charge reasonable fees:
	skips (section 139 Highways Act 1980
	scaffolding (section 169)
	materials (section 171)
	erection of building over a highway (section 177).
	In addition, section 115B of the 1980 Act enables a council to place objects or structures on a highway for the purposes of giving effect to a pedestrian planning order, enhancing the amenity of the highway and its immediate surroundings or providing a service for the benefit of the public. Section 115C enables a council to provide, maintain and operate facilities for recreation or refreshment or both on a highway. By virtue of section 115E a council may grant permission to a person to do what it has the power to do under sections 115B and 115C. In granting a permission under section 115E a council may, by virtue of section 115F, impose such conditions as they think fit, including conditions requiring the payment to the council of such reasonable charges as they may determine.

Historic Areas (New Buildings)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure the quality of new building in historic parts of the City of London.

Keith Hill: Responsibility for considering new buildings within the City of London rests in the first instance with the Corporation of London. In determining planning applications the Corporation are required to take account of the policies contained in their Unitary Development Plan and to also have regard to regional and national planning policy guidance. Policies of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the historic environment are contained in PPG15 and on design in PPG1 and draft PPS1.

Homelessness (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his latest estimate is of the number of people homeless in Leeds.

Keith Hill: Information collected about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is in respect of households, rather than persons. The number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, as reported by Leeds city council during 200304, and April to June 2004, is tabled as follows.
	
		
			  Households accepted as homeless 1 in Leeds 
		
		
			 200304 4,948 
			 April to June 2004 846 
		
	
	(35) Households eligible under homelessness legislation and found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category
	Source:
	ODPM P1E homelessness returns (quarterly)

Housing Developments (Statutory Consultees)

Damian Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to add water companies to the list of statutory consultees for new housing developments.

Keith Hill: The present, non-statutory arrangements for planning applications work satisfactorily. Potential problems with water supply or sewerage are already material considerations in planning cases. If the local planning authority considers that a development would give rise to a water supply or sewerage problem, the authority should consult the relevant water company. Where such problems cannot be resolved, the local planning authority should refuse permission for new housing.
	Under the Town and Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2004, which came into force on 28 September, water and sewerage undertakers are statutory consultees on development plan documents. This means that local planning authorities must take into account, when preparing their development plan documents, relevant strategic advice from the water companies.
	Given the arrangements set out above, there are no plans to add water companies to the list of statutory consultees for planning applications.

Information and Communication Specialists

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many information and communication technology specialists are in full-time employment in the Department.

Phil Hope: The central Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) team is relatively small, staffed by 10 permanent full-time staff. However, there are a larger number of ICT staff distributed within the operational teams of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Local Government Finance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the changes have been in non-domestic rateable values in each English region, indicating the net change in rateable values by region; and what percentage of properties in each region will be (a) above the caps and (b) below the reduction limits in the proposed transitional scheme.

Nick Raynsford: (a) The change in rateable value by region as a result of the revaluation for 2005 is as follows:
	
		
			 Region Number of hereditaments 2000 rateable value () 2005 rateable value () Percentage increase 200005 
		
		
			 East of England 169,179 3,759,194,983 4,530,319,412 20.5 
			 East Midlands 131,647 2,671,286,483 3,095,974,587 15.9 
			 London 276,842 10,521,499,025 12,324,263,470 17.1 
			 North East 73,199 1,428,324,118 1,642,961,619 15.0 
			 North West 232,745 4,661,905,921 5,352,983,060 14.8 
			 South East 237,884 6,190,274,651 7,448,769,772 20.3 
			 South West 176,903 3,001,938,938 3,596,359,401 19.8 
			 West Midlands 176,370 3,741,119,665 4,249,803,575 13.6 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 169,863 3,364,910,944 3,807,232,855 13.1 
			 Total 1,644,632 39,340,454,728 46,048,667,751 17.1 
			 Central List 76 2,246,561,247 2,986,439,550 32.9 
			 Total (inc. CL) 1,644,708 41,587,015,975 49,035,107,301 17.9 
		
	
	(b) The following table shows the percentage of properties in each English region affected by the transitional arrangements for the first two years.
	
		
			 Region Upward cap (percentage year 1) Upward cap (percentage year 2) Downward cap (year 1) Downward cap (year 2) 
		
		
			 London 37.7 23.3 12.0 2.7 
			 South East 39.1 25.1 15.1 3.8 
			 East of England 31.2 19.9 15.1 2.7 
			 South West 30.1 19.6 11.2 1.6 
			 East Midlands 25.0 15.2 16.4 2.8 
			 West Midlands 18.1 11.3 21.1 3.5 
			 North West 22.4 14.1 21.0 4.2 
			 Yorkshire and the  Humber 24.7 16.5 19.4 3.5 
			 North East 20.7 12.0 16.1 2.8 
		
	
	These figures are based on June 2004 data.

Non-domestic Rates

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 7 September 2004, Official Report, column 1164W, on non-domestic rates, how local authorities contribute to the decision-making process for distributions from the non-domestic rate pool.

Nick Raynsford: There are two ways in which local authorities can contribute to decisions on distributions from the non-domestic rate pool.
	The first is through the local authority representation on the Settlement Working Group. This is the main forum for discussions between officials and local authority representatives on the distribution of Revenue Support Grant and non-domestic rates.
	The second is through the formal consultation which takes place after the Government have announced their grant distribution proposals for the coming year in the late autumn.

Recycling

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the latest available 12 month figures are for the proportion of the Department's redundant documentation, waste paper and card that is recycled; and if he will make a statement on the Department's recycling policy.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's policy on recycling is to reduce waste through re-using and recycling and by using refurbished and recycled products and materials, wherever they meet business need and represent value for money.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not retain information on recycled paper in the format requested.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will soon be issuing it's first Greening Operations report which will be publicly available on both the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Sustainable Development in government websites, a copy of this document will also be made available in the Library of the House.

Renewable Energy

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the companion guide to the Planning Policy Statement 22 on Renewable Energy will be published.

Keith Hill: Planning Policy Statement 22 was published on 9 August 2004. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to publish the companion guide to the PPS later this autumn.

Smithfield Street, London (Planning Permission)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will initiate an inquiry into the planning permission granted to 12 Smithfield street, Smithfield in the City of London.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of any developments in relation to this address.

Smoke Alarms

Tony Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place an obligation on landlords to fit smoke alarms to their properties.

Phil Hope: Under proposals set out in the Housing Bill, local authorities will have new powers to license certain types of privately rented accommodation and licensing of larger houses in multiple occupation will become mandatory. It is proposed that it will be a mandatory requirement that smoke alarms are installed and maintained in proper working order in all licensed properties.
	Guidance to local authorities and housing associations on smoke alarm installation in their existing stock was issued in 2001.

Smoke Alarms

Tony Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place an obligation on those selling houses to ensure that smoke alarms are fitted.

Phil Hope: Under proposals set out in the Housing Bill, a duty will be placed on homeowners or their selling agents to provide a home information pack, including a home condition report. The home condition report covers health and safety risks. Consultation on draft guidance on preparation of the home condition report ended on 27 September and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering the responses.
	The Government will continue to encourage all householders to install a working smoke alarm, whether or not the property is for sale.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information is available (a) in printed brochures and other publicity and (b) on the internet and at what email address on the (i) function, (ii) membership and (iii) plans and proposals for Thurrock of the Thurrock Urban Development Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Thurrock Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has published its Baseline Study and its first Annual Report. The UDC is in the process of producing a brochure to explain its role, which will be distributed to stakeholders and made available on its website. The websitewww.thurrockudc.org.ukis due to go live before the end of October. Papers relating to the function and set up of Thurrock UDC can also be located on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at: www.odpm.gov.uk.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) arrangements and (b) timetable are for the full funding of the Thurrock Urban Development Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Thurrock Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has been allocated an initial annual operating budget of 1.5 million. This will be reviewed at the end of the current financial year, by which time the permanent management teams should substantially be in place and the UDC will be better placed to judge its longer-term operating costs. By that stage the project plan and associated programme budget should also be in place.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the Thurrock Urban Development Corporation to have (a) a postal address and (b) an office open to the public in Thurrock.

Keith Hill: The Urban Development Corporation can be contacted at:
	Thurrock Urban Development Corporation, c/o ODPM Thames Gateway Delivery Office, 2 Exchange Tower, 10th Floor, Harbour Exchange Square, London El4 9GS.
	The UDC Board is expected to consider the Business Case for its permanent location shortly.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cause for the delay in announcing the Chief Executive of the Thurrock Urban Development Corporation is; and when an announcement can be expected.

Keith Hill: There has been no delay in the announcement of the arrival of the Chief Executive, which will be made imminently.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to lay before Parliament the draft Statutory Instrument vesting planning powers in Thurrock Urban Development Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Thurrock Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has appointed consultants to assist in defining and establishing the Corporation's planning functions. The final report is due to go to the UDC's Board in November.
	The precise timing of the Planning Order will depend upon the UDC having the necessary agency agreements with Thurrock Council in place and its own qualified staff to operate the powers.

Town Centre Regeneration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether (a) Age Concern and (b) Victim Support are consulted on regeneration plans.

Phil Hope: The term 'regeneration plan' could refer to a wide spectrum of arrangements developed at a national, regional, sub-regional or local level. Consultation with stakeholders is integral to sustainable regeneration. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not issue a definitive list of organisations that must be consulted about regeneration. Guidance recommends that consultation should normally include the voluntary and community sector as well as representatives of local communities. Decisions about who to involve in particular cases are left to the partnership or agency which is leading on any regeneration scheme.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Early Growth

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses Early Growth invested in between its inception and March 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The first of the seven Early Growth Funds, London Seed Capital, launched in October 2002 and made one investment in the period to March 2003. Other Early Growth Funds launched during 200304. In the period to September 2004 over 4 million had been invested into 39 SMEs.
	One objective of the Early Growth Funds is for them to demonstrate to future private investors that it was possible for commercial returns to be made by investing modest amounts into SMEs. The funds themselves will invest over a five to seven year period and performance to date has been within expectations.

Renewable Energy

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in implementing recommendations made by the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee in March 2001 that incineration and other waste-to-energy technologies should not be regarded as renewable energy sources.

Mike O'Brien: The EU directive on the promotion of renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market (2001/77/EC) defines the biodegradable fraction of energy from waste as renewable.
	The Government carried out significant consultation on the support available to energy from waste through the Renewables Obligationthe main driver for the development of renewable energy in Great Britainbefore deciding that the incineration of mixed waste should not be eligible for the Renewables Obligation.
	The Government are however keen to stimulate the development of potentially cleaner and more efficient energy from waste technologies such as pyrolysis, gasification and anaerobic digestion. The proportion of energy, generated by these advanced conversion technologies, derived from the biodegradable fraction of waste, is eligible for support under the Renewables Obligation.
	The Government have recently published the draft terms of reference for the 200506 Review of the Renewables Obligation. The Government do not propose to extend ROC eligibility to electricity generated from existing waste management projects which utilise conventional mass burn incineration technology. However the review will consider whether other options for waste management have emerged in the market which meet the goals of securing energy from wastes in efficient and environmentally beneficial ways and are consistent with the Government's wider waste management goals of increasing recycling and reducing the quantity of biodegradable MSW sent to landfill, as required by the EU landfill directive.

Renewable Energy

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government aid and assistance is available to producers of each kind of renewable energy source.

Mike O'Brien: The Government's main support mechanism for renewable energy is the Renewables Obligation. It provides the same level of support for the following sources: onshore wind; offshore wind; wave; tidal; geothermal; solar PV; all new hydro and refurbished older hydro of up to 20MW declared net capacity; landfill gas; sewage gas; electricity generation from biomass such as energy crops or forestry residues; co-firing of biomass with fossil fuels; and energy from mixed wastehowever, only the non-fossil derived component is eligible and advanced conversion techniques such as pyrolysis, gasification or anaerobic digestion must be used.
	500 million of funding has also been allocated between 2002 and 2008 for emerging renewable technologies. It has been provided in the form of capital grants and funding for RDD. Some examples of money already allocated include 117 million for round 1 offshore wind projects; around 66 million for biomass projects; 31 million for solar PV; 50 million for the Marine Renewables Development Fund, and approximately 19 million per year for industry lead RDD.
	12.5 million of this has been allocated for the Clear-Skies programme, which has recently been extended to run for an extra year to 2006. This provides grants for domestic, community and not-for-profit schemes for the following renewable sources: small-scale wind, small-scale hydro, wood-fuelled boiler and heating systems, and solar thermal systems.
	Solar thermal systems are also eligible for support, for commercial companies, under the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme.
	Renewable electricity is also exempt from the climate change levy. All renewable sources eligible under the RO are also eligible for this exemption with the following exceptions: only hydro-power up to 10MW in size rather than 20MW, and energy from municipal and industrial waste incineration without the need for advanced conversion techniquesbut only for the proportion of waste that is biodegradable.
	Renewable energy will also benefit indirectly from the introduction of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme in 2005.

Bank Holidays

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the cost to businesses of (a) extra staffing costs incurred by working on bank holidays and (b) additional costs incurred through closing on bank holidays.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Unfortunately, we are unable to assess the cost to businesses for extra staffing costs incurred by bank holidays, and the additional costs for closing on bank holidays. This information will depend on the individual business and may be held by the businesses themselves.

Beer Prices

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has carried out into the impact on the retail price of beer resulting from the market position of large pub companies.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The aim of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is to make markets work well for consumers and it is for the OFT to investigate if there is reason to believe that the market position of pub companies is harming competition. The DTI has not carried out research into the retail price of beer.

Bioenergy

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of schemes which have been awarded under her Department's Bioenergy Capital Grants scheme.

Mike O'Brien: The scheme is divided into priority sections each supporting a sector of the industry. 66 million was allocated to projects under the Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme. This includes clusters of small heating boilers, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and power generation.
	Under priority areas la/lb/2 of the scheme, eleven power generation/CHP projects were offered grants with two having met the conditions for acceptance and now under construction. The remaining nine are all actively working toward fulfilling their grant conditions, with five having received planning permission and are in various stages of agreement on fuel supplies and power purchase agreements.
	As of June 30, boilers had been installed under priorities 3a/3b representing over 5MW of capacity.

Renewable Power Stations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she intends to give smaller local power stations help towards construction.

Mike O'Brien: The Government have no plans to give help towards the construction of small power stations but are providing support in a number of other ways.
	The Renewables Obligation (RO) offers support to operators of renewable power stations (many of which are relatively small) by giving a premium value to generation from eligible renewable sources. The RO rules were amended in April 2004 to allow small generating stations with a capacity of 50kw Declared Net Capacity or less to accumulate output and be awarded Renewable Energy Certificates (ROCs) on the basis of their annual, rather than monthly, output, and we are proposing some additional flexibility in our current consultation paper on the Renewables Obligation Order 2005, published on 8 September.
	The DTI-funded Clear Skies (www.clear-skies.org) initiative enables not-for-profit community organisations, including housing corporation, local authorities and schools to receive up to 100,000 for grants towards installing renewable technologies, which can include small renewable generating stations. Such projects give local communities a direct stake in renewables. An extension of this initiative for a further year was announced in September.
	In addition, the Government are committed, under the Energy Act 2004, to developing a strategy within 18 months or so for the promotion of micro generation in the UK. Work has already started on the strategy, which will look specifically at promoting microgeneration from energy sources that help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including biomass.

Business Advisory Bodies (Funding)

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what identifiable results have been achieved as a result of funding from her Department for (a) the Manufacturing Advisory Service and (b) Corporate Venturing UK.

Jacqui Smith: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Manufacturing Advisory Service has consistently met or exceeded its original performance targets and by the end of June 2004 the value added to companies through its interventions had reached 66.8 million. Almost 8,000 diagnostic visits had been made, followed by more than 1,800 in-depth assignments, while average productivity improvements are running at 30 per cent.
	(b) The Corporate Venturing UK (CVUK) provides customer access to a confidential web based shop window that companies looking for corporate venturing opportunities can access to locate partners matching their requirements. Registered users promote opportunities and post details of the attributes they can offer and what they seek in a partner. CVUK has made good progress in promoting the concept of corporate venturingthrough, among other things, conferences and setting up a marketplace for potential corporate venturing partners.

British Nuclear Fuels

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department has made available resources to British Nuclear Fuels to provide loan guarantees to the company's Westinghouse subsidiary to work on new reactor designs in the United States.

Mike O'Brien: The Department has not made available resources to BNFL's subsidiary Westinghouse to provide loan guarantees for reactor design work in the US.

Citizens Advice Bureau

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what projections her Department has made for funding Citizens Advice Bureau in the UK.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 16 September 2004
	None. The DTI does not fund individual Citizens Advice Bureau anywhere in the UK. It funds the umbrella organisations for England, Wales and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland.
	These charitable bodies set standards for advice giving, provide training, support and co-ordinate social policy work on behalf of the individual bureaux. Individual bureaux are each independent charities that raise funds from a number of sources including local authorities.

Civil Service Relocation

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the reductions in core civil service posts in her Department by 200708 proposed in Sir Peter Gershon's review of public sector efficiency will be relocated to sponsored agencies in the regions.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 July 2004, Official Report, columns 29091W.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the hon. Member for West Worcestershire will receive a reply to his letters to the Minister for Employment Relations, Competition and Consumers, of 17 June.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department of Trade and Industry has no record of having received the letter of 17 June 2004. The Department received a copy of this letter on 22 September 2004 and will respond within 15 days of that date.

Council of Ministers

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she will provide a Written Ministerial Statement outlining the key points on the agenda for each of the Council of Ministers' meetings at which her Department is represented in advance of each meeting;
	(2)  if she will provide a Written Ministerial Statement outlining for each meeting of the Council of Ministers at which her Department is represented as soon as is practicable following that meeting (a) the key items of discussion, (b) the positions of the Government on those items, (c) the key positions taken by other member states that Ministers consider should be noted by hon. Members and (d) any preliminary discussion on the timing and the agenda of the following meeting.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her question by my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, on 13 September 2004, Official Report, column 1451W.

Departmental Staff Survey

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library a copy of the Department's Staff Survey 2003.

Patricia Hewitt: I have today placed copies in the Libraries of the House.

Development Funding (Lancashire)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how much Government funding has been allocated for the Luneside East development in Lancaster;
	(2)  if she will breakdown funding for the Lancaster District Economic Development Zone by location;
	(3)  how much funding has been allocated to the Luneside East Economic Development Zone by (a) English Partnerships and (b) the North West Regional Development Agency;
	(4)  what progress has been made regarding the Luneside East Economic Development Zone; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The regeneration of Luneside East is being part funded through the 8 million European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) resources available to the Lancaster Economic Development Zone. In addition to the 2.315 million ERDF, Luneside East has been allocated 4.56 million from English Partnerships and 3.01 million from the North West Development Agency.
	Lancaster City Council is the key delivery organisation for Luneside East, and is currently in the process of engaging a lead developer to take this scheme forward.
	Projects approved by the Lancaster Economic Development Zone partnership to date include:
	
		
			  ERDF () 
		
		
			 Heysham Industrial Access Improvements 460,000 
			 Port of Heysham 350,000 
			 4/5 Dalton Square, Lancaster 1,048,000 
			 Luneside East, Lancaster 2,315,000 
			 Storey Institute (Phase 1), Lancaster 65,000 
		
	
	A further 861,000 ERDF has been invested in a series of public transport and employment access activities across the EDZ area.

Development Funding (Lancashire)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the North West Regional Development Agency has made of economic development at the Lancaster West site in Heysham.

Jacqui Smith: The Northwest Regional Development Agency is aware of the Lancaster West site in Heysham, which has recently changed ownership. The RDA has invited the Lancaster Vision Board to submit proposals for economic development activities within its area and, if the Lancaster West site is nominated by the Vision Board, the RDA will undertake an assessment of its potential.

Development Funding (Lancashire)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the preferred route is of the North West Regional Development Agency for the proposed Heysham Port/M6 Link.

Jacqui Smith: The Agency recognises that both the Heysham-M6 route options offer economic benefits to the region in that they will improve access to the strategic Port of Heysham, will help in the regeneration of Morecambe and will have measurable benefits on traffic levels in Lancaster city centre. The Agency is currently reviewing the recommendations of a number of economic and environmental studies on the two route options and will reach an informed view on the preferred option shortly, taking this work into account.
	The selection of a preferred route for the proposed scheme is a matter for Lancashire county council.

Dinorwic Power Station

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much (a) energy and (b) carbon credit the operation at Dinorwic has saved in each of the last three years.

Mike O'Brien: The last study to look into this was commissioned in 1999. The operation of Dinorwic pumped storage scheme has not changed since then.
	The Primary Energy Savings:
	From 1330 GHh per annum to 1590 GHh per annumas reserve generation
	From 534 GHh per annum to 668 GHh per annumas TV pick-up
	From -3811 GHh per annum to -1773 GHh per annumas Peak Lopping
	Carbon savings:
	In the reserve generation role, Dinorwic can remove 140,000 tons of CO 2 per year

Discrimination

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to propose extending anti-discrimination laws for gay men and lesbians to cover the provision of goods and services.

Jacqui Smith: The Government are aware of concerns about current imbalances in legislative provision for the different groups protected by discrimination legislation, which includes gay men and lesbians. One of the first tasks of the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be to review the legislative framework to ensure that it meets the needs of a modern Britain.
	The Government are committed to improving equality and human rights for all in our society. This underpins our vision of a modern, fairer and more prosperous Britain. The creation of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights Commission will help create a more equal and cohesive society.

ECGD

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what circumstances the decision to convert the Export Credits Guarantee Department to a capitalised Trading Fund would be reversed; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: In my statement to the House of 1 July 2004 on the future of ECGD I set out my objectives in establishing the framework for the ECGD Trading Fund, specifically that it should:
	provide a structure for managing ECGD's business consistent with the current risk-reward balance and business domain;
	help to improve risk management; and
	additionally that there should be transparent arrangements for reporting and accounting the economic costs to Government associated with ECGD's business.
	The period of operating the Pilot Trading Fund from April 2005 will provide the opportunity to test the Trading Fund framework against these objectives and inform Ministers' decision on the move to the Statutory Trading Fund in 200708. That decision will be informed also by a consultation with customers on whether the pilot achieved its objectives.

ECGD

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her plans for restructuring the Export Credits Guarantee Department include job cuts in (a) 2005, (b) 2006 and (c) 2007.

Douglas Alexander: ECGD's recently appointed Chief Executive is currently assessing all areas of the business in which cost reductions can be achieved including, among other factors, necessary staffing levels. Such cost reductions will be needed to deliver lower premium rates to exporters, in line with my right. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's announcement of 1 July, Official Report, column 22WS.

UK Trade and Investment

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the definition of a registered customer for the UK Trade and Investment website services includes an individual or company that (a) has derived measurable benefit from this service and (b) has supplied registration details only on the website.

Douglas Alexander: UK Trade and Investment's definition of a registered customer for our website, www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk, is an individual who has supplied registration details. They will usually be associated with a UK business. Customers of the website are not required to report their business improvement position as a result of using the service.

UK Trade and Investment

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the UK Trade and Investment website's registered customers have reported a measurable increase in business improvement through their use of UKTI services; and whether UKTI is on track to increase the number of registered customers by 50 per cent. by 2006.

Douglas Alexander: UK Trade and Investment is on track to increase the number of registered customers by 50 per cent. by 2005. Customers of the website are not required to report their business improvement position as a result of using the service.

UK Trade and Investment

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new exporters were developed with the assistance of UK Trade and Investment in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004 to date; and how many were small and medium enterprises in each case.

Douglas Alexander: During 200304 UK Trade and Investment assisted in the development of 1,912 successful new exporters (against a target of 1,908) all of which were small and medium enterprises. During the first quarter of 200405 the figure was 348 (against an annual target of 2,088 and against the results of the first quarter of 200304 which were 338).

Ford Car Production

Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on discussions her Department has had with Ford Motor Company regarding Ford's future commitment to production in the West Midlands.

Jacqui Smith: Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the management of Ford Motor Company, as with other major manufacturers in the UK.
	Jaguar's announcement on Friday 17 September, covering their plans for the Browns Lane site, is obviously disappointing, particularly given the efforts of the workforce to improve quality and productivity at Browns Lane. However, given the company's financial performance, tough decisions had to be taken. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has encouraged Jaguar's management to ensure that their workforce and trade unions remain informed and consulted, and that they discuss what steps might be taken to mitigate further job losses. It is important to note that no compulsory redundancies have been announced.
	I am pleased that the company has taken the decision not to close Browns Lane Jaguar's Headquarters and administrative centre will remain in Coventry, as will the company's historic Wood Veneer Manufacturing Centre. And I am encouraged that the world leading R and D Centre at Whitely is being retained and welcome the employment opportunities for Browns Lane workers created by the growth and success at Aston Martin.
	I hope that last Friday's announcement will help enable Jaguar to address its financial difficulties thereby securing a sustainable long-term future for the company, its products and its workforce here in the UK.

Ford Car Production

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on (a) the future of the Land Rover plant at Lode Lane, Solihull and (b) the future of the Jaguar plant at Browns Lane, Coventry.

Jacqui Smith: I welcome the news that the 'road map' for the Land Rover plant at Solihull has been agreed, and now ratified. I hope that all parties will now work together to achieve world-class productivity at the plant, and that it will have a successful future.
	The decision to halt trim and assembly operations at Browns Lane has been a heavy blow to the workforce, their families and the surrounding region. It also broke the agreement the Company had with trade unions.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have committed to raise the matter with senior Ford executives in the US. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has also written to the company to encourage them to further engage with all the stakeholders, and particularly the workforce through their trade unions and the local MPs.

Gas Prices

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the recent increase in the wholesale price of gas on large industrial users; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: While the cost of gas to industry has been rising recently, this should be seen in the context of historical trends. In real terms gas prices for industrial users in 2003 were nearly 30 per cent. below their level in 1990 and well below their average over the last 30 years.
	The Department is monitoring closely developments in the UK gas market and the recent increase in the wholesale price of gas. OFGEM has now announced its conclusions on its investigation into gas price increases in 2003 and 2004. It has concluded that the main causes of rising UK gas prices are record oil prices feeding into gas prices and declining UK gas supplies.
	OFGEM is taking two courses of action. It is asking the European Commission to put more resources into making gas competition work, and is continuing to examine why some UK gas supplies did not reach the market.

Horse Racing (OFT Investigation)

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her latest estimate is of the cost of the investigation by the Office of Fair Trading into British horseracing.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This is a matter for the Office of Fair Trading, which is the authority responsible for the enforcement of competition and consumer protection legislation in the UK, and I have asked its Chairman to respond to the hon. Member.

Insolvency

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost has been of the review of insolvency practitioners regulations.

Gerry Sutcliffe: pursuant to the reply, 16 September 2004, c 172526W
	, I am afraid that because of an administrative error the information given in the reply was incorrect.
	The cost to date is estimated to be 61,965.

Insolvency Service (Staff Numbers)

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the evidential basis was for the forecast increase in staff numbers at the Insolvency Service (a) to 1,600 in 200304 and (b) to 1,625 in 200405.

Gerry Sutcliffe: As from 1 April 2004 the Insolvency Service is operating under a new, net-running cost regime with fee income from insolvency cases covering the cost of administering those cases. Where case numbers rise the additional income produced enables additional staff resources to be engaged to deal with the increase.

Manufacturing Industry (London)

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance her Department gives to the manufacturing industry in London.

Jacqui Smith: The DTI recognises the contribution the manufacturing sector makes to both the regional and national economies. London manufacturers are able to access mainstream DTI business support products, which encourage increased competitiveness, productivity, investment and innovation. In addition, the London Development Agency, which is primarily funded by the DTI, is responsible for direct assistance to the London business community, including manufacturers.
	In July 2004 we published a progress report on the Government's Manufacturing Strategythe first such Strategy for 30 yearswhich highlighted the achievements made so far, including: establishing the Manufacturing Advisory Service, introducing the Research and Development tax credit, and providing substantial investment in the science base to promote innovation. We are working closely with industry, trade unions, and other stakeholders, in key areas of the Strategy to build a highly skilled and highly productive manufacturing sector.
	The London Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) is a DTI initiative to help manufacturers to improve productivity and performance. Since April 2003, MAS have visited 389 London manufacturers. Those businesses that have reported back to MAS have shown average business savings of 157,800 and seen turnover increase by an average of 578,900.
	Business Link for London, which is currently contracted by the DTI to deliver business support, helps manufacturers and other businesses by providing impartial, expert and practical advice to London's small and medium-sized companies.

Marine Aggregates

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the estimated amount in cubic metres of marine aggregates needed for domestic British construction purposes in each of the next 10 years.

Nigel Griffiths: The DTI does not produce forecasts separating marine-dredged from land-won or domestic from commercial.
	Responsibility for consenting to the dredging of minerals from the English seabed rests with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Marine Development Fund

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will give a breakdown of the beneficiaries of the recently announced marine development fund for renewable generation.

Mike O'Brien: The new 50 million Marine Renewables Development Fund announced on 2 August, will be primarily focused on helping wave and tidal stream projects move forward from early demonstration towards commercialisation.
	The Department is currently looking at possible mechanisms for administering the new funding and has not yet allocated any funds to individual beneficiaries.

Miners' Pension Rights

Brian Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many miners dismissed during the 198485 miners' strike applied for restoration of pension rights under the scheme launched in 200203; how many applications were successful (a) in the first instance and (b) on appeal; and how many cases are still under consideration.

Nigel Griffiths: I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given on 29 June, Official Report, columns 19495W.

Mobile Phone Warranties

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will carry out an investigation into the reliability of warranties for mobile telephones.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have no plans to carry out an investigation into the reliability of warranties for mobile phones.
	Under the Enterprise Act 2002, the Office of Fair Trading is responsible for investigating markets to see whether they work well for consumers.

National Assembly for Wales

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has held with the National Assembly for Wales Government on the proposals in its Technical Advice Note 8 consultation.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 16 September 2004
	My officials have discussed the proposals in TANS with their counterparts in the National Assembly for Wales. Further discussions are planned.
	The National Assembly for Wales is a member of the Sustainable Energy Policy Network taking forward the Energy White Paper. This provides a conduit for regular discussion on this and other issues around energy policy.

National Minimum Wage

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the national minimum wage on employment in Mitcham and Morden.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In their last report (spring 2004) the Low Pay Commission stated that the evidence showed that the minimum wage had benefited many low paid workers, with negligible adverse effects on employment and inflation. Information on employment specific to Mitcham and Morden is not available.

Newsagents

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the number of independent newsagents that have closed during the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Data on the number of independent newsagents that have closed during the last 12 months are not available from official sources.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the status of the EU Commission examination, in relation to State Aid issues, of the provisions relating to the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority contained in the Energy Act 2004.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 15 September 2004
	I refer the hon. Member for East Surrey to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blanaeu Gwent (Llew Smith) on 14 September 2004, Official Report, column 1537W.

Nuclear Industry

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who authorised the public comments made by Adrian Gault on nuclear power; and whether they represent the policy of her Department.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State authorised the release on the DTI website of a large quantity of analytical work underpinning the Energy White Paper in February 2003. This included around 25 scenarios. There are different patterns of fuel use for electricity generation up to 2050 across these scenarios, which would all be consistent with a 60 per cent. CO 2 reduction. The Government's views on nuclear power remain as set out in the White Paper.

Nuclear Waste

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the amount of (a) processed and (b) unprocessed nuclear waste that will be stored in the UK in (i) one year, (ii) three years' and (iii) five years' time; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how much (a) processed and (b) unprocessed nuclear waste is being stored in the UK; at which locations it is being stored; and from where the waste originated.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	An inventory of the radioactive waste currently held, and forecast to be held in the future, in the UK is compiled periodically (normally every three years) by my department and United Kingdom Nirex Limited (Nirex). This inventory statement, known as the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory, is a published document and it gives details of the waste in terms of volume, physical characteristics and chemical composition. It also provides information on the amounts of waste which are currently held in conditioned and unconditioned form, who is responsible for its management, and where it is stored.
	There are over 30 sites at which waste is stored in the UK, the major site being Sellafield. Details of where waste originated from is not contained in the Inventory, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. In general the waste currently held on sites is that which has arisen at the site, but there have been movements between sites over the years.
	The last fully compiled Inventory, published in October 2002, is for a stock date (i.e data collection date) of 1 April 2001. Work to compile the next Inventory for a stock date of 1 April 2004 is currently ongoing, and the results will be published in 2005.
	Figures for the stocks of UK radioactive waste given in the 2001 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory are:
	
		
			  Stocks (m(38)) 
			  HLW ILW LLW 1 
		
		
			 Not yet conditioned 1,619 64,227 14,425 
			 Already conditioned 342 11,186 303 
		
	
	(36) Most LLW is usually promptly disposed of to the Drigg disposal facility.
	Approximate estimates of future arisings derived from the 2001 Inventory, in terms of fully conditioned volumes, are:
	
		
			  Estimated conditioned volume of waste (m(39)) 
			  HLW ILW LLW 
		
		
			 1 April 2001 764 74,500 15,900 
			 1 April 2004(37) 964 84,900 54,200 
			 1 April 2007(37) 1,160 96,000 87,000 
			 1 April 2009(37) 1,270 103,000 107,000 
		
	
	(37) Approximate estimates derived from 2001 Inventory figures.
	Definitive 2004 figures will be provided by the 2004 Inventory results.

Nuclear Waste

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to (a) recycle, (b) repatriate and (c) bury nuclear waste currently being stored in the UK.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	UK radioactive waste owners are responsible for the future management of their waste, subject to securing the necessary regulatory approval from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the environment agencies.
	The Government's position on the future of reprocessing of spent fuel was set out in the July 2002 White Paper Managing the Nuclear Legacy (Cmd.5552). Magnox fuel is reprocessed for reasons given in the White Paper, and this should finish by around 2012. BNFL expects to complete their existing order book for THORP reprocessing by around 2010. Before making a decision on any proposal for new THORP contracts the Government would review it against the criteria set out in the White Paper and would consult publicly.
	Government policy for the return of wastes from the reprocessing of foreign spent fuel is set out in the July 1995 White Paper Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy: Final Conclusions (Cmd.2919). It is that the wastes arising from such reprocessing should be returned to the country of origin, and the high level radioactive waste (HLW) should be returned as soon as practicable after vitrification. The White Paper accepted that in appropriate circumstances this return policy can be implemented by waste substitution arrangements which ensure broad environmental neutrality for the UK. Substitution of HLW for low level radioactive waste (LLW) was permitted because of the availability of the LLW disposal facility at Drigg in Cumbria. Intermediate level radioactive waste (ILW) substitution was the subject of a Department of Trade and Industry consultation paper issued in January 2004, and the responses to this are currently being considered. All reprocessing contracts signed by BNFL since 1976 have included return of waste provisions, and these has been reinforced by exchange of intergovernmental letters. The programme of return of overseas reprocessing wastes is planned to begin in 20078.
	The Drigg facility caters for the long-term management of LLW. Options for the long-term management of higher activity waste are currently the subject of consideration and evaluation by the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM). The long-term management policy for these higher activity wastes will be decided by UK Government and the devolved administrations in light of CoRWM's recommendations, due to be delivered in summer 2006. In the meantime the waste is stored safely under the regulatory surveillance of the HSE and environment agencies.

Nuclear Waste

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the Answer of 11 February, Official Report, column 1478W, on nuclear waste, how much foreign spent nuclear fuel imported from abroad is stored at (a) Drigg, Cumbria and (b) elsewhere in the United Kingdom; what plans there are to send this spent fuel back to the countries of origin; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 16 September 2004
	No overseas spent fuel received in the UK for reprocessing at Sellafield is stored at the Low Level Waste disposal facility near Drigg.
	To date, approximately 10,000 meters cubed of Low Level Waste arising from the reprocessing of overseas spent fuel has been emplaced at Drigg.
	The forecast volumes of conditioned High and Intermediate Level Waste at Sellafield to be returned to BNFL's overseas customers are approximately 305 metres cubed and 3,238 metres cubed respectively. The programme to return overseas high level reprocessing wastes is planned to begin in 200708.
	Separately, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has a very small amount of overseas Intermediate and Low Level Waste associated with its Research and Material test reactor, stored at Dounreay, Caithness for return to overseas customers.

Paper Industry

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of energy price rises on the paper industry.

Jacqui Smith: While the DTI has not at present made any detailed assessment of the impact of higher energy prices on the UK paper industry, the Government are very much aware of the concerns of Britain's energy-intensive manufacturing industries in particular and are monitoring the situation. More generally, in July 2004 the DTI published a Review of the Manufacturing Strategy: Competing in the Global Economy (http://www.dti.gov.uk/manufacturing/strategy review.pdf), which sets out a framework and action plan for Government and industry stakeholders to create the right conditions for manufacturing success.

Parental Leave

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will reduce the length of time a parent must have been employed by a company before he or she becomes entitled to parental leave.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government are committed not to make any changes to the laws for working parents before 2006, after the impact of the existing legislation has been reviewed.
	As part of its programme of work exploring what additional support could be provided to working parents while also meeting business needs, the DTI will examine a range of options.

Postal Scams

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to ensure that vulnerable people do not become victims of postal scams.

Gerry Sutcliffe: DTI and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) are working to raise consumer awareness of postal scams.
	Most postal scams operate from outside the UK. The OFT works with the network of enforcement agencies called ICPEN (International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network) to investigate and take action against cross-border scams.
	The OFT have taken a lead within Europe in taking action against scam mail under the powers provided by the Injunctions Directive and the Enterprise Act 2002 ('Stop Now Orders').

Regional Assemblies

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the proposed relationship between the regional development agencies and the regional assemblies in terms of control of public funding used to support businesses.

Jacqui Smith: The Government set up regional development agencies (RDAs) in the English regions in 1999 to co-ordinate the economic development and regeneration of the regions. The RDAs are the strategic drivers of regional economic development, working with regional and local partners and stakeholders to improve the performance of the regional economies. The RDA's activities include promoting business efficiency, investment and competitiveness in various ways. Details of these and other activities to further economic development and regeneration, skills and employment, are set out in their corporate plans, which are approved by Ministers.
	As part of their policy for decentralising power and strengthening the English regions, the Government are providing for the establishment of elected assemblies in regions that want to take greater responsibility for the decisions that affect them. The Government published the draft Regional Assemblies Bill and accompanying policy statement on 22 July. As set out in the draft Bill, in a region where an elected regional assembly is created, the RDA will become a functional body of the assembly. The assembly will fund the RDA from its block grant, and the RDA will be accountable to the assembly, rather than to central Government, including for the public funding it uses for business support. It will be up to each assembly to decide the precise arrangements it puts in place for its working relationship with the RDA.
	The RDA's business support activities will, as now, support the regional economic strategy, which the RDA will prepare for adoption by the assembly, subject to any modifications the assembly may wish to make.
	Both the RDA and the assembly will be required to publish reports on their activities and expenditure.

Regional Development Grants

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are used to assess areas for regional development grants.

Jacqui Smith: The current Assisted Areas map was agreed with the European Commission in 2000, in accordance with the Regional Aid Guidelines and remains in force until 2006. It cannot be amended during that period without the agreement of the Commission.
	The map identifies areas of acute labour market need and business opportunity, according to broad criteria established by the Commission. The UK map agreed in 2000 was constructed from electoral wards identified on the basis of four separate criteria: 'residence-based' (International Labour OfficeILO) and 'workplace-based' (Claimant Count) unemployment rates; manufacturing share of employment; and employment rates. These indicators were calculated from a series of wardlevel information drawn from the 1991 Census, and the 1998 Labour Force Survey, Annual Survey of Employment and Claimant Count unemployment.

Regional Venture Capital Funds

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether all regional venture capital funds are operational; and on what dates they were launched.

Nigel Griffiths: All nine Regional Venture Capital Funds (RVCF) are operational, one in each English region.
	East Midlands RVCF was launched in January 2002
	North East RVCF was launched in January 2002
	North West RVCF was launched in March 2002
	Yorkshire and the Humber RVCF was launched in June 2002
	London RVCF was launched in June 2002
	South West RVCF was launched in October 2002
	South East RVCF was launched in October 2002
	West Midlands RVCF was launched in January 2003
	East of England RVCF was launched in July 2003.

Renewable Obligation Certificates

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to encourage greater use of renewable obligation certificates; and if she will make a statement on how the changes introduced in the Energy Act 2004 will work in practice in relation to the new mutualisation power.

Mike O'Brien: The Renewables Obligation provides suppliers with a strong incentive to acquire Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) as suppliers who do not have enough certificates to meet their share of the Renewables Obligation have to pay the buy-out price for the remainder. The proceeds of the buy-out fund are then recycled to suppliers who hold ROCs, so that those suppliers paying into the buy-out fund are effectively subsidising those who use ROCs.
	The Government's current consultation paper on a number of limited changes to the Renewables Obligation, which was published on 8 September, includes a proposal to increase the level of the Obligation from 10.4 per cent. to 15.4 per cent. over the period from 201011 to 201516. This measure is in response to calls from the renewable industry to give additional confidence for the period beyond 2010 and should encourage the development of renewables and therefore the use of ROCs. In addition, the forthcoming review of the Renewables Obligation in 200506 will include, among other things, an assessment of the effectiveness of the Renewables Obligation, including the extent to which the Obligation has led to new renewables projects coming forward.
	The current consultation paper also sets out the Government's plans to give effect to the changes introduced in the Energy Act 2004 in respect of mutualisation. Where there is a shortfall in the Renewables Obligation buy-out fund, mutualisation will work by requiring each licensed supplier with a renewables obligation (excluding the defaulting supplier) to contribute an additional sum to make up the shortfall. These sums will form a separate mutualisation fund which will be redistributed to suppliers holding ROCs in the same way as the existing buy-out fund.

Renewable Obligation Certificates

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down how shortfalls in the Renewable Obligation Certificates Fund were made up in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Mike O'Brien: In 200203, there were shortfalls in the Renewables Obligation buy-out fund totalling 23.6 million. This was the result of the failure of two companiesTXU (UK) Ltd. (which lead to a shortfall of 23.1 million) and Maverick Energy Ltd. (a shortfall of 0.5million). I understand that the administrators of TXU expect to make an interim payment to the affected suppliers very shortly.
	It is too early to give precise figures for shortfalls in 200304, although I understand that two companiesAtlantic Electric and Gas Limited and Maverick Energy Limitedboth of which are in administrative receivership will not have any funds available to comply with the Renewables Obligation. The resulting shortfall from Atlantic will be around 8.5 million and from Maverick some 0.7 million.

Sunday Trading

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Department has for evaluating the effect of Sunday trading on the family life of employees.

Gerry Sutcliffe: None. The Employment Rights Act 1996 provides an opt-out option for shop workers who do not wish to work on Sundays.

Tidal Renewable Energy

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public money has been invested in renewable energy tidal sources in the current financial year.

Mike O'Brien: The Government provide support for research and development in tidal stream technologies under the Department of Trade and Industry's Technology Programme. So far this financial year, 444,148 has been spent and a further 566,727 committed to this area under the programme.
	Additionally, on 2 August Government announced a new 50 million Marine Renewables Development Fund. The new fund will be committed over the next three years and will support the further development of both tidal and wave technologies.

Trade Statistics

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the main (a) goods and (b) services traded between the UK and (i) Finland, (ii) Sweden, (iii) Norway, (iv) Denmark and (v) Iceland were in the last period for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: Information on the UK's trade in goods with the Nordic countries is given in the following table.
	A breakdown of the UK's trade in services with these countries is not available.
	
		UKNordic countries trade in goods 2003
		
			 Main commodities traded  million 
		
		
			 Top 3 UK exports to Denmark  
			 Telecoms and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment 446 
			 Office machines and ADP machines 184 
			 Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances and electrical parts thereof 154 
			   
			 Top 3 UK imports from Denmark  
			 Meat and meat preparations 505 
			 Dairy products and birds' eggs 278 
			 General industrial machinery and equipment and machine parts 197 
			   
			 Top 3 UK exports to Finland  
			 Road vehicles (including air cushion vehicles) 226 
			 Office machines and ADP machines 170 
			 Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances and electrical parts thereof 125 
			   
			 Top 3 UK imports from Finland  
			 Paper, paperboard and manufactures thereof 903 
			 Telecoms and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment 584 
			 Cork and wood 222 
			   
			 Top 3 UK exports to Iceland  
			 Road vehicles (including air cushion vehicles) 12 
			 Other transport equipment (not road vehicles) 11 
			 Machinery specialized for particular industries 10 
			   
			 Top 3 UK imports from Iceland  
			 Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic invertebrates and preparations thereof 218 
			 Other transport equipment (not road vehicles) 22 
			 Feeding stuff for animals (not incl. unmilled cereals) 22 
			   
			 Top 3 UK exports to Norway  
			 General industrial machinery and equipment and machine parts 184 
			 Machinery specialized for particular industries 159 
			 Office machines and ADP machines 141 
			   
			 Top 3 UK imports from Norway  
			 Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials 4,820 
			 Non-ferrous metals 232 
			 Professional, scientific and controlling instruments and apparatus 193 
			   
			 Top 3 UK exports to Sweden  
			 Road vehicles (including air cushion vehicles) 415 
			 Iron and steel 332 
			 Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials 327 
			   
			 Top 3 UK imports from Sweden  
			 Road vehicles (including air cushion vehicles) 840 
			 Paper, paperboard and manufactures thereof 657 
			 Iron and steel 440 
		
	
	Source:
	Compiled by DTI from HM Customs and Excise data

HEALTH

New Variant CJD

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of new variant CJD have been identified in each year since 1999

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Deaths of definite and probable vCJD 
		
		
			 1999 15 
			 2000 28 
			 2001 20 
			 2002 17 
			 2003 18 
			 2004(38) 4 
			  (39)4 
		
	
	(38) As of 6 September 2004
	(39) Number of probable vCJD cases still alive

Cancer Services

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost is of an operation for breast cancer in the NHS.

John Hutton: Data are collected on the average cost of a number of procedures on the breast but are not broken down into categories allowing the identification of those procedures specific to cancer.

Cancer Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to expand preventative policies to combat cancer, with particular reference to reducing liability to environmental hazards by tighter regulations and better application of the precautionary principle.

Melanie Johnson: With reference to reducing liability to environmental hazards through regulation, the regulatory roles lie with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department of Trade and Industry. The role of the Department of Health is to advise these other Government Departments on the risk of adverse human health effects from chemicals in the environment. The regulations are developed to prevent adverse effects, including cancer, in humans.

Cancer Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given to the Mid-Anglia Cancer Network to publish an overall plan for the provision of cancer services and specialist treatments based in hospitals at Chelmsford, Colchester and Ipswich; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has not issued any advice to the Mid Anglia Cancer Network (MACN) to publish an overall plan for the provision of cancer services. In line with our policy of Shifting the Balance of Power, the configuration of local health services is a matter for the local national health service, working in partnership with its local community. It is for local NHS organisations, with their knowledge and expertise, to plan and develop services, based on that knowledge. I understand that the MACN will make a final decision about the future configuration of cancer services at its next board meeting in November.

Care Homes (Funding)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department made available for care homes in (a) the London borough of Havering, (b) each other London borough and (c) each strategic health authority in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: Neither councils nor strategic health authorities are allocated funding to be spent on care homes in particular. It is for councils and strategic health authorities to decide in the light of local circumstances and priorities how much of the general funding that they receive should be spent on care homes.
	The Government have provided additional resources for social services. Between 199697 and 200203 the Government have increased funding by about 20 per cent. in real terms, an average of 3 per cent. per annum and will continue to increase resources until 200506 by an average of about 6 per cent. per annum in real terms.
	The Government have also made additional revenue resources available to the national health service. Since 19992000, the first year of unified allocations, funding has grown from some 31 billion to over 49 billion for 200405. From 2003, as part of shifting the balance of power, three-year allocations have been made direct to primary care trusts (PCTs) for the first time. PCTs received average increases of 30.83 per cent. in funding for the period covering 200304 to 200506.

Care Homes (Funding)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the London borough of Havering on funding for care homes; and what his response was.

Stephen Ladyman: We have had no representations from the London borough of Havering on funding for care homes.

Carers

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to improve practical support to carers of family members at home; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: This Government are the first ever to recognise the contribution and concerns of carers. They developed the national carers strategy in 1999 with carers and the organisations that represent them.
	The Carers Grant was introduced in 1999 to support councils in providing breaks and services for carers in England. The grant has been increased annually and has provided an extra 325 million over the last five years. It is worth 125 million this year and will continue at least until 200506, by which time it will be 185 million.
	The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act received Royal Assent on 22 July 2004. The Act will ensure that carers are able to take up opportunities which those without caring responsibilities take for granted.
	The office of the Deputy Prime Minister launched the Beacon council scheme on 7 July 2004. Supporting carers is one of the themes for the forthcoming round.
	To support carers' access to information, the Department is funding Carers UK to provide advice and information in a variety of formats.

CHCs

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many premises are owned or leased by community health councils; and how many are (a) occupied and (b) unoccupied.

Rosie Winterton: Following the abolition of community health councils on 1 December 2003, the responsibility for community health council premises transferred to NHS Estates, therefore no premises are owned or leased by community health councils. 115 premises are awaiting assignment to national health service organisations, other tenants or are awaiting sale. None of these premises is currently occupied.

CHCs

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what community health council buildings have been disposed of since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The following community health council offices have been disposed of since 1997:
	Blackburn
	Bolton
	Burnley
	Bury
	Chester
	Chorley
	Central Cheshire
	Halton
	Liverpool Central
	Liverpool South
	Liverpool Eastern
	Macclesfield
	Oldham
	Preston
	Rochdale
	Salford
	South Cumbria
	South Sefton
	Southport
	St. Helens
	Stockport
	South Derbyshire
	South Lincolnshire
	South Northampton
	Bath and District
	Cornwall
	Exeter and District
	Isle of Scilly
	North Devon
	Plymouth and District
	Swindon and District
	Torbay and District
	Southampton and South West Hampshire
	Coventry
	Dudley
	East Birmingham
	Herefordshire
	Kidderminster
	Mid Staffordshire
	North Birmingham
	North East Warwickshire
	North Staffordshire
	Tameside
	Trafford
	West Lancashire
	Wigan
	Wirral
	Airedale
	Barnsley
	Bradford
	Calderdale
	Darlington and Teesdale
	Dewsbury
	Doncaster
	East Cumbria
	Gateshead
	Harrogate
	Hartlepool and South Easington
	Huddersfield
	Hull
	Leeds
	Newcastle
	North East Lincolnshire
	North Tyneside
	Northallerton
	North West Lincolnshire
	Pontefract
	Scarborough and North East Yorkshire
	South Durham and Weardale
	South Tees
	South Tyneside
	Sunderland
	West Cumbria
	York
	Central Nottingham
	Leicester
	North Derbyshire
	North Northampton
	Nottingham
	Sandwell
	South East Staffordshire
	Walsall
	West Birmingham
	Wolverhampton
	West Berkshire
	Dartford and Gravesend
	Worcester
	Barking, Dagenham and Havering
	Croydon
	Harrow
	Kingston
	Southwark
	Chichester
	South Buckingham
	Reading
	South West Surrey
	Mid Downs
	Mid Surrey
	North West Surrey
	Milton Keynes
	Huntingdon
	North Hertfordshire
	Great Yarmouth and Waveney
	Cambridge
	East Suffolk
	North West Anglia
	Norwich
	South Bedfordshire
	South West Hertfordshire
	Winchester and Central Hampshire
	West Surrey and North East Hampshire
	Wandsworth
	Aylesbury Vale
	Basingstoke and North Hampshire
	Northumberland

CHCs

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total amount of (a) rent and (b) other costs being paid by community health councils since their abolition.

Rosie Winterton: The estimated costs of rent on former community health council premises is 1.142 million. This is mainly due to outstanding leases. It is expected that the remaining 69 properties will be disposed of by the end of this financial year.

CHCs

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the locations of former community health council offices where rent is still payable.

Rosie Winterton: Rent is still payable on the following former community health council offices:
	Blackpool, Manchester South, Manchester Central, Manchester North, Halton, Warrington, East Yorkshire, North Durham, Rotherham, Sunderland, Bassetlaw, Central Lincolnshire, Bristol, East Dorset, Gloucestershire, Salisbury and District, Somerset, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Bromsgrove and Redditch, Shropshire, Solihull, South Birmingham, South Warwickshire, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, City and Hackney, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton and Sutton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Hove, Canterbury, Gravesend, East Berkshire, Eastbourne, East Surrey, Maidstone, Hastings, Medway, Oxfordshire, South East Kent, Tunbridge Wells, Worthing, North Bedfordshire, North West Hertfordshire, North East Essex, Southend and District, West Essex, Mid Essex, Basildon and Thurrock, West Suffolk and East Hertfordshire.
	This is mainly due to outstanding leases. It is expected that the remaining properties will be disposed of by the end of this financial year.

Continuing Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will reassess his estimate of the cost of providing free personal care with reference to (a) the latest Laing and Buisson survey for March 2003, (b) the current review of eligibility for NHS continuing care and (c) changes to the amount of funding for free nursing care since January 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: No, the estimate of the cost of providing free personal care will not be reassessed. None of these changes would materially affect our estimate of providing free personal care.

Continuing Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost in each year until 200910 of providing NHS continuing care for those people previously denied it until the review of eligibility criteria this year.

Stephen Ladyman: My written statement of 22 June 2004 specified that the National Health Service expects to pay a total of over 180 million in restitution payments to those previously wrongly denied NHS continuing care, and that this amount has been added to NHS budgets. No data are held centrally on the proportion of these cases which relate to people living today, nor what the likely life expectancy might be of those who remain alive today. In the absence of this information, no meaningful estimate of costs can be made.

Continuing Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount his Department has allocated to strategic health authorities (a) to cover the costs of reviewing their eligibility criteria for NHS continuing care and (b) for compensating those people who were wrongly denied continuing care over the past seven years.

Stephen Ladyman: My written statement of 22 June 2004 specified that the National Health Service expects to pay a total of over 180 million in restitution payments and that this amount has been added to NHS budgets. The review of eligibility criteria is part of the NHS' management of services and was managed within NHS budgets.

Contraceptive Services

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rules are for the prescribing of contraceptives services for people under the age of 16; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) on 4 October 2004, Official Report, column 1947W.

Dementia

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual cost of providing nursing and personal care for dementia sufferers in England.

Stephen Ladyman: Since April 2003, everyone who requires care from a registered nurse will have received free of charge either direct national health service nursing care from the community nursing service or NHS funded nursing care.
	The estimated cost of providing free personal care in England for those with dementia would be in the region of 1 billion. The estimated cost of providing free personal care in England for everyone with a need for personal care would be about 1.5 billion. The total gross expenditure on means tested social services for all adults in 200203 was 9.5 billion; net expenditure (after deducting fees and charges) was 7.5 billion.

Dentistry

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy that dentists from other European Economic Area countries should be required to undertake a vocational training year in the same way as UK dentists before being permitted to practise in the UK.

Rosie Winterton: Yes, and we take every opportunity to advocate the benefits of vocational training in our contacts with the European Commission and the health departments of those Member States which do not have schemes. The need arises because the Dentists Directive 78/686/EEC entitles holders of qualifications meeting the standards set out in the Directive to automatic recognition throughout the European Economic Area. Member States cannot impose additional training requirements.
	We are currently recruiting additional dentists to improve access to National Health Service dentistry. Where they are to appoint overseas dentists, Primary care trusts offer induction training which covers key items within the vocational training curriculum.

Dentistry

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost to the NHS of dental services was for each primary care trust in the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The cost to the national health service of general dental services (CDS) in Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority area is shown in the table. This covers payments to GDS dentists less patient charge contribution.
	
		Cost 1 to the NHS of general service dentistry  million
		
			 PCT 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Adur, Arun and Worthing 3.440 3.543 3.701 3.825 4.366 4.728 4.881 
			 Bexhill and Rother 1.217 1.299 1.274 1.273 1.335 1.367 1.618 
			 Brighton and Hove City 5.693 5.846 5.889 5.931 6.340 6.810 7.492 
			 Crawley 1.575 1.863 2.273 2.093 2.174 2.215 2.600 
			 East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey 3.676 3.911 3.958 4.059 4.746 4.851 5.187 
			 East Surrey 2.570 2.716 2.568 2.627 2.892 3.021 3.216 
			 Eastbourne Downs 2.626 2.883 2.879 2.996 3.425 3.621 3.572 
			 Guildford and Waverley 3.638 3.789 3.820 3.932 4.372 4.513 5.065 
			 Hastings and St Leonards 1.873 1.961 1.948 2.131 2.186 2.240 2.472 
			 Horsham and Chanctonbury 1.590 1.624 1.662 1.773 2.037 2.179 2.503 
			 Mid-Sussex 3.323 3.572 3.498 3.572 3.880 3.782 4.021 
			 North Surrey 2.916 3.087 3.205 3.284 3.562 3.619 3.914 
			 Sussex Downs and Weald 2.264 2.327 2.393 2.713 2.986 3.128 3.500 
			 Western Sussex 2.979 3.109 3.371 3.556 3.800 3.781 4.081 
			 Woking Area 3.262 3.494 3.562 3.608 4.227 4.295 4.598 
			 
			 SSSHA totals(41) 43.780 46.418 47.667 48.865 54.058 57.247 60.587 
		
	
	(40) CDS fee payments only for 199798 to 200001. For 200102, 200203 and 200304 some other GDS costs are included. The other costs comprise: seniority payment; maternity, paternity, adoptive pay; long-term sick pay; continuing professional development allowance (CPDA); CPDA travel hours; business rates; training grant; clinical audit convenor; clinical audit secretarial support; clinical audit travel expenses; clinical audit payment; and vocational dental practitioner salary and national insurance contributions.
	(41) SSSHA totals include some other GDS costs, which are not available at primary care trust level.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board.
	This expenditure does not include personal dental services expenditure.

Dentistry

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid by NHS patients towards dental services in each primary care trust in the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Patient charges in the general dental services and personal dental services by primary care trust in the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority area are shown in the table.
	
		General dental service and personal dental service patient charges in Sussex and Surrey Strategic health authority000
		
			 PCT 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Adur, Arun and Worthing 2,045.8 2,165.4 2,147.8 2,275.2 2,345.5 2,414.7 2,472.2 
			 Bexhill and Rother 793.1 811.2 787.1 797.2 750.4 757.5 888.7 
			 Brighton and Hove City 2,114.6 2,316.2 2,357.2 2,625.9 2,617.1 2,828.3 3,053.5 
			 Crawley 651.4 810.4 922.7 928.0 910.4 711.0 720.0 
			 East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey 2,200.5 2,391.4 2,357.6 2,290.6 2,364.9 2,204.7 2,129.6 
			 East Surrey 1,444.6 1,631.9 1,519.3 1,654.6 1,738.8 1,754.0 1,760.1 
			 Eastbourne Downs 1,716.1 1,927.6 1,923.7 1,962.9 2,064.9 2,155.5 1,974.6 
			 Guildford and Waverley 1,858.4 1,922.3 1,919.6 1,893.5 1,921.9 1,951.9 2,034.2 
			 Hastings and St. Leonards 798.3 840.0 867.5 965.3 995.5 1,030.7 1,161.3 
			 Horsham and Chanctonbury 864.7 877.2 832.8 946.5 1,030.8 1,090.8 1,135.8 
			 Mid-Sussex 1,453.9 1,505.0 1,602.8 1,670.3 1,656.5 1,618.8 1,748.2 
			 North Surrey 1,663.0 1,797.4 1,934.2 1,935.8 1,946.2 1,952.9 1,857.3 
			 Sussex Downs and Weald 1,535.4 1,553.7 1,605.8 1,845.2 1,918.7 1,999.2 2,109.3 
			 Western Sussex 1,862.1 2,022.3 2,234.3 2,384.4 2,330.7 2,292.1 2,382.4 
			 Woking 1,805.6 1,875.2 1,861.9 1,902.8 1,994.5 1,901.8 1,863.9 
			 Total 22,807.3 24,447.3 24,874.3 26,078.2 26,587.0 26,664.0 27,291.0 
		
	
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board
	Personal dental services patient charges were introduced in October 1998. The first PDS patient charges in this area occurred in 19992000.

Departmental Satellite and Cable

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the cost to the taxpayer was of satellite and cable subscriptions in his Department's buildings;
	(2)  if he will list the premium channels that his Department subscribes to.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's building at 79 Whitehall (Richmond House) is connected by cable link to the parliamentary annunciator system from the Palace of Westminster. This link was in place when Richmond House opened in 1988, having first been established in 1969 in a previous headquarters building. The purpose of this is to provide Ministers, their Private Offices and other staff access to debates in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Currently, this system is free of charge and comes in the form of a package of 24 audio and visual channels, which provide access to a range of broadcast services in addition to the parliamentary channels. Of these, Sky Sports is the only service which would be categorised as a premium channel. Separate from this, the Central Office of Information also provides a link for viewing the parliamentary committee broadcasts, at a current annual cost to the Department of 27,739.40, including VAT.
	In her reply to a similar question from the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 23 April 2002, Official Report, column 241W, my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Ms Blears) attributed this separate charge to the provision of the annunciator system. This was based on wrong advice, arising from a misunderstanding at the time about the operation of the system. I have written to the hon. Member apologising for the mistake and drawing his attention to this reply. A copy of that letter has been placed in the Library.

Domiciliary Care

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of domiciliary care.

Stephen Ladyman: Since 1997, the number of contact hours of domiciliary care have increased from 2.6 million to 3.1 million in 2003. More people are being kept out of residential care through the provision of intensive care packages in their own home. The number of households receiving intensive support at home has increased from 60,700 at September 1998 to 87,000 at September 2003.
	In 200405, total social services resources for adults increased to 10.3 billion, or 775 million more than 200304, an increase of 8.2 per cent. in cash terms or about 6 per cent. in real terms. It is for local councils to decide how much of this funding is spent on domiciliary care.

Eating Disorders

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 14 September 2004, Official Report, column 1498W, on eating disorders, what information he collates on waiting times for in-patient and out-patient treatment for eating disorders.

Rosie Winterton: Information on waiting times, which is available at http://www.performance.doh. gov.uk/waitingtimes/, for in-patient and out-patient treatment in England is collected by consultant specialty rather than for specific conditions. This means that the information is not available in the format requested. However, we are aware that waiting times for treatment for eating disorders are sometimes too long and this is why we asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to develop a guideline on the effective treatments and why the national director for mental health is developing guidance for commissioners of specialised services.

Female Doctors

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many female doctors are employed in the NHS; and at what level (a) in real terms, (b) as whole time equivalent and (c) as a percentage of all doctors.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS) doctors and general medical practitionersFemale doctors by grade/type/number (headcount) and percentage
		
			  All doctors Of which: Female 
			  Headcount Percentage Wte Percentage Headcount Percentage Wte Percentage 
		
		
			 All doctors 109,964 100 102,344 100.0 41,371 37.6 36,284 35.5 
			  
			 HCHS Doctors(42) 76,400 100 42,260 100.0 27,826 36.4 25,474 35.3 
			 Of which: 
			 Consultant 28,750 100 26,341 100.0 7,162 24.9 6,261 23.8 
			 Staff Grade 5,255 100 4,828 100.0 1,982 37.7 1,654 34.3 
			 Associate Specialist 2,001 100 1,780 100.0 751 37.5 602 33.8 
			 Registrar Group 14,619 100 13,989 100.0 5,738 39.3 5,289 37.8 
			 Senior House Officer 18,698 100 18,419 100.0 8,231 44.0 8,048 43.7 
			 House Officer 4,003 100 3,994 100.0 2,110 52.7 2,104 52.7 
			 Senior Dental Officer 492 100 383 100.0 295 60.0 218 57.0 
			 Dental officer 766 100 521 100.0 535 69.8 353 67.7 
			 Hospital Practitioner(42) 72 100 221 100.0 20 27.8 55 24.9 
			 Clinical Assistant(42) 461 100 1,068 100.0 146 31.7 446 41.8 
			 Other CHS 1,283 100 715 100.0 856 66.7 443 61.9 
			  
			 General Medical Practitioners(43) 33,564 100 30,084 100.0 13,545 40.4 10,810 35.9 
			 Of which: 
			 Unrestricted Principals and  Equivalents (UPEs) 28,568 100 26,311 100.0 10,144 35.5 8,467 32.2 
			 Assistants 456 100 329 100.0 288 63.2 202 61.5 
			 Flexible Career Schemes 175 100 52 100.0 145 82.9 43 82.9 
			 GP Registrars 2,235 100 2,153 100.0 1,339 59.9 1,268 58.9 
			 GP Retainers 971 100 307 100.0 955 98.4 302 98.2 
			 GP Returners 62 100 60 100.0 42 67.7 40 67.7 
			 PMS others 914 100 710 100.0 531 58.1 401 56.4 
			 Restricted Principals 78 100 71 100.0 38 48.7 35 48.7 
			 Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA) 105 100 91 100.0 63 60.0 52 57.4 
		
	
	(42) Excludes hospital medical hospital practitioners and hospital medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part-time in hospitals.
	(43) All practitioners include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, GP retainers, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	Sources:
	Department of Health general and personal medical services statistics.
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the average list size of general practitioners in (a) England, (b) each strategic health authority and (c) each primary care trust for each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The average general practitioner list sizes in England for each year from 1997 to 2003 by strategic health authorities and primary care trusts have been placed in the Library.

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average general practitioner list size is in (a) Hartlepool Primary Care Trust and (b) England.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 16 September 2004
	The table shows the average general practitioner list size in Hartlepool Primary Care Trust and England.
	
		Average list size of Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs) 1 for England and Hartlepool Primary Care Trust As at 30 September 2003Numbers (headcount) 
		
			  UPEs Patients of UPEs Average list size 
		
		
			 England 28,568 52,713,780 1,845 
			 of which
			 5D9 Hartlepool PCT 45 93,550 2,079 
		
	
	(44) UPEs include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs. Patient data has been revised from previously published figures
	Source:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will list the 10 primary care trusts with the lowest number of general practitioners per 100,000 population;
	(2)  how many general practitioners per 100,000 population there are in (a) Hartlepool Primary Care Trust and (b) England.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 16 September 2004
	As at March 2004, there were 52.6 general practitioners (GP) (excluding retainers, registrars and locums) per 100,000 weighted population in Hartlepool Primary Care Trust (PCT) compared to 63.6 GPs (excluding retainers, registrars and locums) per 100,000 weighted population in England.
	The 10 PCTs with the lowest number of GPs (excluding retainers, registrars and locums) per 100,000 weighted population as at March 2004 are as follows:
	Doncaster, West
	Thurrock
	Eastern Hull
	Easington
	Barking and Dagenham
	Walsall
	Barnsley
	Oldham
	North Stoke
	Ashton, Leigh and Wigan
	All figures are based on headcount.

GP Surgeries (Disabled Access)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide funds to improve access to general practitioner surgeries for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Department recently announced an additional 108 million over two years for improving general practitioner premises. This money can be used to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, including the new access provisions commencing 1 October 2004. The use of this money will however be subject to local decision-making and prioritisation.
	The Department and the Disability Rights Commission last month issued joint guidance for the primary care sector aimed at raising awareness of the duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and improving disabled people's experience of primary care services.

Head Injuries

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of district general hospitals accepting patients with head injuries have a consultant who has undergone higher surgical training in the management of head injuries.

John Hutton: Information on the staffing profile of district general hospitals and the training undergone by individual consultants employed in them is not held centrally. Central monitoring and reporting is limited to that concentrated on the information needed to demonstrate progress against the targets set out in National Standards, Local Action: Health and Social Care Standards and Planning Framework 200506 to 200708published by the Department on 21 July 2004; and for contractual purposes. Additional monitoring is kept to a minimum in favour of local performance management systems, exception reporting and independent inspections.
	All doctors are expected to comply with the guidelines of the General Medical Council about providing care. They must recognise and work within the limits of their own professional competence and refer a patient to another practitioner, when appropriate.

Hepatitis C

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to verify the accuracy of estimates of the percentage of the population with hepatitis C.

Melanie Johnson: As part of the Hepatitis C Action Plan for England, the Health Protection Agency is strengthening epidemiological surveillance of hepatitis C infection to provide better estimates of its prevalence and incidence in the general population and injecting drug users.

Hernia Operations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of a hernia operation is on the NHS.

John Hutton: The national average unit cost (per operation) for all national health service trusts in England for inguinal, umbilical or femoral hernia repairs, where the operation is undertaken electively (that is not as an emergency) is as follows:
	As an in-patient:
	For patients who are more than 69 years old or with complications or co-morbidities1,247
	For patients who are less than 70 years old without complication or co-morbidities1,066
	As a day case procedure:
	For patients who are more than 69 years old or with complications or co-morbidities701
	For patients who are less than 70 years old without complication or co-morbidities729
	The data source is the reference costs 2003 collection, relating to the financial year 200203. This is the most current data available and is accessible on the Department's website at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/Publications PolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance Article/fs/en?CONTENT ID=4070195chk=UzhHA3
	Calculation of the costs provided are based on all activity and costs associated with each procedure, regardless of the speciality in which the activity is recorded.

Hernia Operations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many inguinal hernia operations were carried out by the NHS in each of the last three years.

John Hutton: The number of finished consultant episodes for the years 200001 to 200203 for Office of Population Censuses and Surveys 4 codes T19 to T21 (hernia operations) is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 200001 84,003 
			 200102 80,000 
			 200203 82,879 
		
	
	Note:
	Finished Consultant Episode: Finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	All operations count of episodes: These figures represent a count of all FCEs where the procedure was mentioned in any of the 12 (four prior to 200203) operation fields in a Hospital episode statistics record. A record is only included once in each count, even if an operation is mentioned in more than one operation field of the record.
	Grossing: Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 200203 which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Maternity Services

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps is he taking (a) to maintain the number of midwives and (b) to maintain the number of those available (i) for home births, (ii) to fill existing vacancies and (iii) to cover those unable to attend work.

John Hutton: The Government are implementing a range of measures to recruit and retain midwives. These include improving pay and conditions, encouraging the national health service to become a better, more flexible and diverse employer, increasing training, investing in child care and continuing professional development, attracting back returners and running national and international recruitment campaigns.
	In September 2003, there were 1,556 more midwives employed in the NHS than there were in 1997 and the number of students entering training to become a midwife each year has increased by 574 or 34 per cent. since 199697.
	In line with the Government's policy to devolve decision making to those at the front line of NHS service provision, it is for individual units and trusts to make arrangements for covering home births and to cover for staff absences.

Maternity Services

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each NHS organisation providing maternity services, the latest available figures for (a) vacancies for midwifery grades (i) in numerical terms and (ii) expressed as a percentage of total number of posts at those grades and (b) numbers of (i) home births and (ii) caesarean sections performed, expressed in each case (A) in numerical terms and (B) as percentages of total births.

Stephen Ladyman: The information available on vacancies for midwifery grades has been placed in the Library.
	Information on the numbers of home births and caesarean sections performed is not available in the format requested. Hospital episode statistics data show that, in 200203, there were an estimated 12,100 home deliveries (2.16 per cent. of total deliveries) and 117,800 caesarean deliveries (21 per cent. of total deliveries) in England. Percentages for caesarean sections compared to total hospital deliveries are available by hospital in Table 33 of the NHS Maternity Statistics, England, 20O203 bulletin. A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library.

Kidney Dialysis

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Saudi Arabia is among those countries with which the UK has reciprocal arrangements for providing kidney dialysis for patients travelling abroad.

John Hutton: The United Kingdom has reciprocal treatment arrangements with a number of countries outside of the European Economic Area. There is currently no reciprocal arrangement with Saudi Arabia.

Meat Consumption

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce the amount of (a) red meat and (b) white meat consumed; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Government recognise the contribution meat can make to a healthy balanced diet and have no plans to take specific action to reduce meat consumption. They are however, taking a number of steps to encourage people to eat a healthier diet, which includes advising moderate consumption of meat and encouraging people to choose leaner cuts and remove visible fat and poultry skin.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of (a) sexual assault on and (b) sexual harassment of mental health in-patients have been reported in each of the past 10 years; and how many of these incidents resulted in criminal or civil proceedings.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not centrally available.
	National health service trusts need to ensure that all patients are protected from physical, psychological or sexual harm while they are being treated in mental health facilities. As set out in Safety, Privacy and Dignity in Mental Health Units (2000), an officer at a senior level within the trust should be appointed to have responsibility for women's safety, privacy and dignity. Speedy and robust arrangements must be in place to deal effectively with staff or patients who sexually abuse or harass patients, staff and visitors. Whether there is a complaint or not, all incidents of women patients being threatened, pestered or harassed should be investigated, recorded and reported to the responsible officer for monitoring purposes.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the types of bodies through which mental health service users are able to influence the development and delivery of mental health services; and in which trusts such bodies operate.

Rosie Winterton: The Government established patients' forums for all primary care trusts and national health service trusts, including mental health trusts. Forums comprise volunteer members of the public, and include patients of the trusts for which the forums are established. Forums feed the views and experiences of patients and the public into the operation and management of services. Patients' forums make reports and recommendations to the boards of the trusts and can also refer matters of concern to the healthcare commission, local authority overview and scrutiny committees, strategic health authorities, or any other body they deem appropriate.
	Mental health policy implementation guide on adult acute inpatient care (2002), which is available in the Library, recommends the establishment of acute care forums with involvement of service users and carers to agree and regularly review the operation and co-ordination of the range of acute care services.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of Mind's Ward Watch report; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is committed to ensuring patients' safety, privacy and dignity in all inpatient settings and understands that some people in psychiatric wards may not always feel that ward environments are conducive to their recovery.
	We value every opportunity to study and take into account any new evidence and welcome working in close collaboration with Mind on this issue.
	The Department has given a strong public commitment to protect patients' privacy and dignity and to achieve single sex hospital accommodation in all national health service hospitals. By December 2003, 99 per cent. of NHS trusts provided single sex sleeping accommodation for planned admissions and had robust operational policies in place to protect patients' privacy and dignity; 99 per cent. of them met the additional criteria to ensure the safety, privacy and dignity of people who are mentally ill; and 97 per cent. provided properly segregated bathroom and toilet facilities for men and women.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of the report commissioned by the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority into the death of Sarah Lawson in Worthing; and what the cost of legal advice to the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority in respect of the report was.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not have the requested information.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how he plans to monitor the progress of recommendations made in the report into the death of Sarah Lawson on improvement of mental health services in West Sussex;
	(2)  what action he plans to take to implement in England the recommendations of the report on the death of Sarah Lawson in respect of mental health services.

Rosie Winterton: The report on the death of Sarah Lawson was commissioned by the former West Sussex health authority, and carried forward by the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority. It is therefore the responsibility of the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority to ensure that local recommendations are fully considered, and acted upon.
	However, the Department will consider and respond to any national recommendations.

Mental Health

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether epilepsy is included in the definition of mental disorder in the Draft Mental Health Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Under the Bill, mental disorder means
	an impairment of or a disturbance in the functioning of the mind or brain resulting from any disability or disorder of the mind or brain.
	Having a condition which falls within this definition cannot, on its own, lead to a person being detained or treated under compulsory powers. The powers in the Bill can only be used where the carefully drawn conditions are all satisfied. The conditions require that the patient is suffering from a mental disorder which is serious enough to warrant specialist treatment under the care of a senior mental health practitioner; the risk to self or others justifies use of compulsory powers and appropriate treatment is available for the individual patient taking into account all the circumstances of the case.

Mental Health

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to provide further funding to the North West Surrey Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust to support the retention of respite care beds at Kingscroft, Staines;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to block the proposals of the North West Surrey Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust to close respite care beds for sufferers with learning difficulties and mental health problems at Kingscroft, Staines.

Rosie Winterton: Following the Department's Shifting the balance of power initiative, funding is allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. It is for PCTs, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.
	The configuration of local health services including the provision of respite care beds is a matter for the local National Health Service, working in partnership with its stakeholders and the local community. It is for NHS organisations to plan and develop services based on their specific local knowledge and expertise.

Myasthenia Gravis

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on Government support provided to those diagnosed with myasthenia gravis;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to increase awareness of the condition myasthenia gravis amongst the medical profession;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on support provided by Government to the families of people who are diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.

Stephen Ladyman: Although there is no cure for myasthenia gravis there are a number of treatments available to help control it. These include medication, surgery, and palliation. It is for strategic health authorities in partnership with other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to provide health services for their populations, including those with myasthenia gravis, with independent inspection to ensure that patients have access to appropriate services.
	The national service framework for long-term conditions will focus on improving services for people with neurological conditions. While the framework will not cover myasthentia gravis specifically, it will recommend improvements in standards, care and support that will benefit everyone with a neurological condition. We are committed to publishing the framework as soon as possible.
	We have no specific plans to raise awareness of the condition among the medical profession. The Department is not responsible for setting curricula for health professional training; that is the responsibility of the statutory and professional bodies. However we do share a commitment with those bodies that all health professionals are trained so that they have the skills and knowledge to deliver a high quality health service to all groups of the population with whom they deal.

Myasthenia Gravis

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to increase awareness about myasthenia gravis amongst members of the medical professions.

Stephen Ladyman: We have no specific plans to raise awareness of the condition among the medical profession. The Department is not responsible for setting curricula for health professional training; that is the responsibility of the statutory and professional bodies. However we do share a commitment with those bodies that all health professionals are trained so that they have the skills and knowledge to deliver a high quality health service to all groups of the population with whom they deal.
	The national service framework for long-term conditions will focus on improving services for people with neurological conditions. While the framework will not cover myasthenia gravis specifically, it will recommend improvements in standards, care and support that will benefit everyone with a neurological condition.
	We are committed to publishing the framework as soon as possible.

NHS Direct

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of calls to each NHS Direct call centre in England in the last 12 months related to dental problems.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the total number and percentage of calls to each call centre in England relating to dental problems is not collected centrally.

NHS Psychiatry

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) psychiatrists and (b) community psychiatric nurses were (i) recruited to and (ii) left the NHS in each of the last three years.

John Hutton: Work force data are collected through the annual non-medical work force census. The census is a snapshot of data on a specific day in the appropriate year. The information shown in the table shows the net difference each year in the number of consultants within the psychiatry group and the number of qualified nurses working in community psychiatry between September 2000 and September 2003. Data on numbers of leavers and joiners in the national health service is not available.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services and NHS hospital and community health services: consultants within the psychiatry group and qualified community psychiatric nurses in England Headcount
		
			   Psychiatrist Qualified community psychiatric nurses 
		
		
			 2000 2,904 11,080 
			 2001 2,959 12,224 
			 Difference 200001 55 1,144 
			
			 2002 2,979 12,292 
			 Difference 200102 20 68 
			
			 2003 3,229 13,173 
			 Difference 200203 250 881 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census

NHS Psychiatry

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the vacancy rates are for (a) psychiatrists and (b) community psychiatric nurses in the NHS.

John Hutton: As at March 2004 the three month vacancy rate was 9.6 per cent. for psychiatrists and 1.9 per cent. for qualified nurses working in community psychiatric nursing services.

NHS Staff (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent NHS (a) general practitioners, (b) nurses in general practitioner practices, (c) other NHS community nurses and (d) community-based NHS staff in each of the other professions allied to medicine there were in the greater York area in (i) 1994 and (ii) each year since then.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) 1, practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs) 2 and National Health Service hospital and community health services qualified community nursing(45) for North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority and specified organisations Whole-time equivalents (wte)
		
			  1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire  
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(45) 923 933 927 944 934 951 959 968 989 1,037 
			 Practice nurses employed by UPEs(46) 323 286 303 312 325 342 357 367 406 430 
			 Qualified community nursing(47) n/a 1,263 1,313 1,373 1,350 1,234 1,132 1,551 1,596 1,727 
			 Of which:   
			 Selby Primary Care Group (PCG)   
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(45) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 41 42 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Practice nurses employed by UPEs(46) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 14 13 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Qualified community nursing(47)   
			 York PCG   
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(45) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 128 131 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Practice nurses employed by UPEs(46) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 44 39 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Qualified community nursing(47)   
			 York and Selby Primary Care Trust   
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(45) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 171 184 189 
			 Practice nurses employed by UPEs(46) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 45 59 62 
			 Qualified community nursing(47)183 234 246 
			 York Health Services NHS Trust   
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(45) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Practice nurses employed by UPEs(46) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Qualified community nursing(47) n/a 196 193 193 161 200 240 50 24 24 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	(45) All practitioners (excluding retainers) include UPEs, restricted principals, assistants, general practitioner registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), personal medical service (PMS) other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	(46) UPEs include general medical service (GMS) unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.
	(47) Community nursing includes the nursing levels; health visitors and district nurses, and the areas of work; community psychiatry, community learning disabilities and community services.
	Notes:
	1. GP retainers were first collected in 1999 and have been omitted for comparability purposes.
	2. GP wte data has been estimated using the results from the 199293 GMP Workload Survey; full-time = 1.00 wte; three quarter time = 0.69 wte; job share = 0.65 wte; half time = 0.60 wte.
	3. Data as at 30 September every year except GP data as at 1 October 199499.
	Sources:
	Department of Health general and personal medical services statistics.
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census.

NHS Treatment Centres

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that any spare capacity in NHS treatment centres is used before involving independent sector treatment centres at a higher cost to the NHS.

John Hutton: Both national health service treatment centres and independent sector treatment centres are intended to build capacity to treat NHS patients as safely, quickly and cost effectively as possible. Currently, it is a matter for primary care trusts (PCTs) to commission providers to meet the needs of their local populations. There is no extra cost to a PCT of using independent sector providers. In future, the decision whether or not patients are referred to a NHS provider or an independent sector provider will be down to the choice of individual patients.

Occupational Asthma

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on encouraging businesses to invest in occupational health services for employees who develop occupational asthma; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's policy is to encourage responsible employers and businesses, large, medium and small, to invest in occupational health services for all their employees. To that end, NHS Plus was launched by the Department in November 2001. NHS Plus is now a network of over 100 occupational health departments that sell occupational health (OH) services to the private sector. These services include access to treatment for occupational asthma.
	In the NHS Improvement Plan we said that building on the work of NHS Plus, the national health service can play an increasingly vital role in ensuring that employees are able to return to work as soon as possible following illness or injury. The Department will work with the Health and Safety Executive and the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that a wider occupational health approach is supported by the NHS.

Out-of-hours GP Cover

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the (a) NHS litigation authority and (b) the primary care trust which has made arrangements for out-of-hours general practitioner cover will be liable in cases of clinical negligence where the negligent treatment was provided by an out-of-hours service commissioned by a primary care trust.

John Hutton: If an out-of-hours service is commissioned by a primary care trust (PCT), the provider of the service will be expected to obtain their own insurance cover. The national health service litigation authority is not liable for claims as it administers the clinical negligence scheme for trusts on behalf of trusts, who retain the legal liability for clinical negligence claims.
	If the PCT provides out-of-hours services itself, then any negligent act would be covered by the PCT.

Patient and Public Involvement Forums

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time between application, interview and recruitment of members to Patient and Public Involvement Forums has been in (a) Greater London and (b) England.

Rosie Winterton: The average time between application and formal acceptance for members of patients' forums is 29 days for both England and London 1 . In cases where there is greater urgency, for example when a forum has fewer than seven members, the recruitment process can be accelerated to achieve completion in seven days.
	1 Source:
	Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health.

Patient and Public Involvement Forums

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will be responsible for recruiting members to Patient and Public Involvement Forums when the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health is abolished.

Rosie Winterton: The intention is that the National Health Service Appointments Commission will become responsible for recruiting and appointing members to patients' forums.

Patient and Public Involvement Forums

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patient and public involvement forums have had fewer than seven members for (a) three months, (b) six months and (c) 12 months in (i) Greater London and (ii) England.

Rosie Winterton: At the end of March 2004, England had 13 patients' forums, out of a total of 572, with fewer than seven members, and London had none, out of a total of 74. At the end of June 2004, those figures were 52 and eight respectively 1 . Patients' forums did not exist a year ago.
	1 Source:
	Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health.

Patient and Public Involvement Forums

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of members of patient and public involvement forums are from ethnic minority communities in (a) Greater London and (b) England.

Rosie Winterton: Equal opportunities information completed by patients' forum members on recruitment show that 10 per cent, are from minority ethnic communities. The figures are not yet available for London, but the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health is carrying out diversity surveys in each of its nine regions, which will provide information on minority ethnic and other diverse communities.

Patient and Public Involvement Forums

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patient and public involvement forums have the minimum number of seven members in (a) Greater London and (b) England.

Rosie Winterton: At 4 October 2004, England had 486 patients' forums with at least seven members and London had 58.

Reproductive Health

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the national health service will fund intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment as part of the availability of IVF;
	(2)  what guidance he has given to primary care trusts on access to IVF treatment;
	(3)  when universal availability of IVF treatment will be introduced; whether a limit will be placed on the number of cycles of treatment available; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) on 4 October 2004, Official Report, columns 197779W. The clinical guideline issued to the national health service by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in February 2004 gives guidance on the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the treatment of infertility. It makes clear that ICSI should be considered as the appropriate treatment where certain clinical conditions occur.

Ritalin

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of children under 11 receiving the medication Ritalin; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Information is not available in the form requested. Data are not held on the number of people who receive a particular medication. However, the figures in the following table show the total number of prescription items of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride dispensed in the community in England in the last six years. In 2003, Ritalin accounted for 40 per cent. of the prescription items of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride. Other brands of Methylphenidate, Concerta and Equasym, accounted for 43 per cent. and 17 per cent. respectively of the total prescriptions issued.
	
		Number of prescription items of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride dispensed in the community in England1998 to 2003 thousands
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 1998 126.6 
			 1999 158.0 
			 2000 186.2 
			 2001 208.5 
			 2002 254.0 
			 2003 314.5 
		
	
	Source:
	Prescription Cost Analysis data from the Prescription Pricing Authority.
	In 2003, it is estimated that around 90 per cent. of the 314,500 prescription items dispensed in the community were to children (children under 16 and young people aged 16 to 18 in full time education). This proportion has been similar over recent years.

Road Traffic Accidents

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many serious brain injuries caused by road traffic accidents were recorded in (a) 1975, (b) 1980, (c) 1990, (d) 2000 and (e) 2003.

Stephen Ladyman: Data are only available from 199091 onwards due to changes in the way data were collected. Before then data for the hospitals in-patients inquiry were collected on death and discharges on a 10 per cent. sample basis. For the hospital episode statistics system we use now, data are based on a 100 per cent. sample of finished consultant episodes.
	
		Primary diagnosishead injury caused by road traffic accidents in national health service hospitals in England 199091, 200001 and 200203
		
			  Finished admissions 
		
		
			 199091 13,078 
			 200001 15,405 
			 200203 14,072

Sexual Health Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times for sexual health services in the NHS are.

Melanie Johnson: The average genito-urinary medicine access time is not available. However the Department is currently working with the Health Protection Agency and the Healthcare Commission to develop primary care trust level waiting time information. The Healthcare Commission is considering how best this developing information source can be used in its assessments of the performance of healthcare organisations.

Sexual Health Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to deal with sexually transmitted diseases, with particular reference to young people; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Government's steps for dealing with sexually transmitted diseases are set out in the national strategy for sexual health and HIV, the teenage pregnancy strategy, the national strategy for sexual health and HIV implementation action plan and the Government response to the Health Select Committee's third report of session 200203 on sexual health. Copies of these documents are available in the Library.
	Both the sexual health and teenage pregnancy strategies recognise young people as being disproportionately affected by poor sexual and reproductive health and implementation of the strategies includes specific action to address this. The National service framework for children, young people and maternity services, published on 15 September, also includes sexual and reproductive health and provides specific standards and markers of good practice to drive up the quality of services at local level.

Sexual Health Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sexually transmitted diseases were recorded in the Redbridge, Havering and Barking NHS Trust area in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002.

Melanie Johnson: The numbers of sexually transmitted diseases diagnosed in genito-urinary medicine clinics in the Redbridge, Havering and Barking national health service trust area from 1999 to 2002 inclusive, are shown in the table:
	
		Number of diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases by sex, Redbridge, Havering and Barking NHS Trust: 19992002
		
			 Sex 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Male 662 643 576 686 
			 Female 1,171 1,135 1,154 1,175 
			 Total 1,833 1,778 1,730 1,861

Smoke-free Workplaces

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research he has commissioned to evaluate the economic effects on businesses of making workplaces smoke-free;
	(2)  what evidence is held by the Government on the economic effects on the hospitality trade of making their premises smoke-free;
	(3)  what advice he has received on the effects of smoke-free workplaces on (a) productivity, (b) absenteeism and (c) fire damage.

Melanie Johnson: The annual report of the Chief Medical Officer on the state of the public health presented an economic assessment of the effects of banning smoking in the workplace and public places. A copy is available in the Library.

Speech Therapists

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many speech therapists entered training in each of the last five years.

John Hutton: Information on the number of speech and language therapists entering training in each of the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Speech and language therapists 
		
		
			 19992000 457 
			 200001 558 
			 200102 553 
			 200203 597 
			 200304 630

Speech Therapists

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent speech therapists were employed in the NHS in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: total qualified speech and language therapists in England, in each of the last five years Whole time equivalent
		
			  England 
		
		
			 1999 3,939 
			 2000 4,066 
			 2001 4,207 
			 2002 4,365 
			 2003 4,707 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census
	Between September 1997 and 2003, the number of speech and language therapists employed in the NHS has increased by 1,372 or 28 per cent. We expect that there will be further increases in the NHS speech and language therapy workforce as a result of the Delivering the NHS Plan forecast for 30,000 more therapists and scientists in the NHS by 2008 over a 2001 baseline.
	The number of training places for speech and language therapy is also increasing. In 200304, 630 students entered training to become a speech therapist, a 38 per cent. increase since 199899.

Terminally Ill Patients

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned regarding the provision of support for terminally ill patients who wish to die in their homes; what NHS resources are available to such patients; and what plans he has to increase the level of such support.

Melanie Johnson: The Department has not commissioned any research into the provision of support for terminally ill patients who wish to die in their homes. Cancer Networks have, however, been asked to conduct a population based palliative care needs assessment in response to the recommendations of the supportive and palliative care guidance produced by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. This assessment will map currently available palliative care services and inform the range and volume of services required in each network.
	The National Cancer Research Institute has recently announced that funds of up to 5 million will be released over the next five years to improve the way cancer care research is carried out in the United Kingdom. The Department will be committing 500,000 per annum to this initiative, and Macmillan Cancer Relief, Marie Curie Cancer Care, the Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK will also be contributing. It is hoped that proposals to stimulate and develop new research on care from diagnosis to end-of-life will be submitted in response to this initiative, in addition to proposals on bereavement for carers.
	I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Baron) on 25 May 2004, Official Report, column 1606W.

Tuberculosis

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many vacancies there were and what the vacancy rates were for consultants specialising in TB in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority in each year since 1996;
	(2)  how many consultants were specialising in TB in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority, in (i) headcount and (ii) whole time equivalent terms in each year since 1996.

John Hutton: Information about specialists working in tuberculosis since 1996 has been placed in the Library. Vacancy information for 2002 to 2004 has also been placed in the Library. Prior to 2002 vacancy information was aggregated and it is not possible to identify TB specialists separately.

Venous Thrombosis

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS hospitals undertaking joint replacement surgery have a consultant haematologist or orthopaedic surgeon with special training or interest in venous thrombosis.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	All hospitals undertaking joint replacement or any other form of surgery are expected to have the appropriate clinical skill mix to ensure that procedures are performed safely and to a high standard.
	The number of consultant haematologists and trauma and orthopaedic surgeons in England has increased by 144 (29.5 per cent.) and 462 (43.8 per cent.) respectively between September 1997 and June 2004. Individual doctors' special interests are not collected by the Department.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services, medical Consultants within haematology and trauma and orthopaedic surgery specialties
		
			  Number (headcount) 
			 England September 1997 June 2004 Percentage change 
		
		
			 Haematology 488 632 29.5 
			 Trauma and orthopaedic  surgery 1,056 1,518 43.8 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

Vulnerable Citizens (Doorstep Selling)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential role of health and social care workers in promoting awareness among vulnerable citizens of the threats associated with doorstep cold calling.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department is represented on the cross-departmental Ministerial group, which has been established to encourage a more joined approach amongst agencies in addressing the problems of crime associated with doorstep selling. The group will consider what actions to take to improve consumer protection against doorstep selling.

Waiting Times

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts in England concerning targets for waiting times for patients from Wales.

John Hutton: English national health service trusts treat many Welsh patients living close to the border between Wales and England. As health and the NHS are a devolved matter, it is for the National Assembly for Wales to agree waiting time targets for Welsh residents, irrespective of where they are treated. The Department's current advice to NHS trusts in England is that, as a matter of good practice, they should treat patients registered with general practitioners in Wales within the waiting time standards that apply for England.

Waiting Times

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting times were for (a) heart surgery, (b) orthopaedics, (c) ophthalmology and (d) cancer treatment in the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The elective waiting times for heart surgery, orthopaedics, ophthalmology and cancer treatment at West Suffolk Hospitals National Health Service trust are shown in the table.
	
		Median and mean waiting times (days) for West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust (RGR) for elective admissions (waiting time and booked) with main operation heart surgery, orthopaedics and ophthalmology, and for primary care diagnosis cancer treatment in each year since 199798 to 200203
		
			  199798 198899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 
		
		
			 Heart surgery: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) K01-K71 
			 Median 17 15 1 1 1 1 
			 Mean 16 55 3 12 2 4 
			
			 Orthopaedics: OPCS V01-V54 and W01-W92 
			 Median 138 158 240 217 183 266 
			 Mean 162 179 235 239 223 253 
			
			 Ophthalmology: OPCS C01-C86 
			 Median 232 211 172 129 204 303 
			 Mean 201 181 150 168 217 251 
			
			 Cancer treatment: international classification of diseases (ICD)10 C00-D48 
			 Median 27 27 21 20 10 12 
			 Mean 54 49 49 51 36 45 
		
	
	Notes:
	Diagnosis (Primary Diagnosis)
	The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	Main operation
	The main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource-intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, for example, time waited, but the figures for all operations count of episodes give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.
	Grossing
	Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 200203, which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	Time Waited
	Time waited statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
	Source:
	Hospital episode statistics (HES) Department of Health.

Wheelchair Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to make a statement on the future of wheelchair services and equipment loan stores.

Stephen Ladyman: A statement is planned for the autumn on modernising wheelchair services. This will help local primary care trust commissioners shape the future of wheelchair services. The integration of health and social services' equipment loan stores, generally known since 2001 as community equipment services, is underway.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Fines

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people were fined following criminal convictions in each of the last 15 years;
	(2)  what percentage of fines imposed after a criminal conviction were fully paid in each of the last two financial years;
	(3)  what the total amount was of fines imposed after criminal conviction outstanding in each of the last five financial years in England and Wales;
	(4)  how many people in England and Wales who were fined following a criminal conviction have fines arrears (a) in excess of 1,000, (b) in excess of 2,000, (c) in excess of 3,000, (d) in excess of 4,000, (e) in excess of 5,000 and (f) in excess of 10,000.

Paul Goggins: The number of persons fined in England and Wales for offences of all types is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of persons fined 
		
		
			 1988 1,228,029 
			 1989 1,205,958 
			 1990 1,172,725 
			 1991 1,147,845 
			 1992 1,166,347 
			 1993 1,078,246 
			 1994 1,043,639 
			 1995 986,033 
			 1996 1,061,493 
			 1997 987,985 
			 1998 1,049,115 
			 1999 982,679 
			 2000 1,003,555 
			 2001 920,474 
			 2002 963,977 
		
	
	Principal offence basis
	Fines are collected by the magistrates courts. Information obtained from the Department for Constitutional Affairs states that the information on the percentage of fines which are fully paid and the total amount of fines outstanding in a financial year is not collected by the legacy systems used by the Magistrates Courts Committees. Similarly, information is not collected in terms of the numbers of people who have fines arrears in excess of a specific sum.

Animal Experimentation

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the increase in the number of procedures involving animals compiled under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Caroline Flint: The latest available data on the number of licensed scientific procedures involving animals are in the publication Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain (Command 6,291copies are in the Library).
	This shows that 2.79 million procedures, regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, were started in 2003. This is an increase of 2.2 per cent. from the previous year, but this is within the limits of what are regarded as minor variations between years. It does not necessarily signal an established upward trend in animal use.
	The pattern of species use is similar to that recorded in previous years. Rats, mice and other rodents were used in 85 per cent. of the procedures. A further 10 per cent. involved use of fish and birds.
	The species afforded special protection under the 1986 Actcats, dogs, primates and equidaewere used in less than 1 per cent. of the total. Though within this relatively small percentage there was an increase in procedures using primates, the number of such animals used for the first time fell slightly. This is because some animals can be reused in certain mild procedures, such as blood sampling.
	The trend over recent years, whereby the overall balance of use has gradually tipped more towards genetically modified animals, has continued. Such animalsmainly micewere used in 2003 in 27 per cent. of all procedures, which is only 1 per cent. up on 2002, but compares with 8 per cent. in 1995. Most regulated procedures concerning these animals relate to breeding and the maintenance of colonies.
	The total number of procedures in 2003 is considerably less than those recorded annually in the 1970s and 1980s, though the general downward trend since then has levelled out over the last decade.
	It is impossible to predict the number of procedures likely to be undertaken in future years, as many factors are involved over which the Government have no direct control. These include strategic decisions by funding bodies, global economic trends and developments as a result of scientific innovation and endeavour.
	But further increases as part of a longer term upward trend are likely, as use of genetically altered animals opens up new avenues of medical research, as more drugs and medicines are developed, and as new regulatory safety and testing requirements come into effect.
	The numbers used will, however, be minimised in each programme of work, through rigorous application by the Home Office of the licensing controls in the 1986 Act.

Animal Experimentation

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to achieve his policy to reduce the number of animals involved in experimentations.

Caroline Flint: The Government's responsibilities are to seek to reduce the animals used by minimising the number in particular projects, rather than through a reduction in the overall total, which in a demand-led area such as scientific research would not be practicable.
	The use of animals can be licensed only under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 where there is no non-animal alternative, and then only when both the number of animals to be used and any resulting suffering is minimised. This reflects application of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement). Every step is taken in assessing licence applications, both at the establishments concerned and within the Home Office, to ensure that no 3R alternative is overlooked, and that licence authorities maintain that position.
	The Home Office has previously funded work to the value of approximately 250,000 a year for projects to promote and deliver reduction and refinements. We also co-sponsored the 4th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, and are a co-sponsor of the 5th World Congress due to take place later this year.
	Earlier this year we announced the setting up of the National Centre for the 3Rs, which will act as a focal point for research in this important area. This implements a recommendation of the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures. Responsibility for the National Centre rests with the Office of Science and Technology.
	The Home Office continues to lead in running the Inter-Departmental Group on the 3Rs, a cross-Government body which considers many alternatives issues and keeps under review the Inter-Departmental Data Sharing Concordat.
	We also support related efforts at the international level, including contributions to the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), on which there is a Home Office representative.
	The main gains in the 3Rs have come from the scientific community itself, and any future progress is likely to come in the main from its own continuing efforts to develop, validate and adopt alternatives.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) acceptable behaviour contracts, (b) interim anti-social behaviour orders and (c) full anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in Mitcham and Morden.

Hazel Blears: Data are not collected centrally on numbers of acceptable behaviour contracts agreed.
	No notification of interim anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued within the London borough of Merton (in which Mitcham and Morden are located) have been reported to the Home Office.
	The number of notifications received, up to 31 March 2004 (latest available), of full ASBOs issued, where restrictions imposed are specific to the London borough of Merton, is six.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been served in the Leeds city council area since they were introduced.

Hazel Blears: The number of notifications received by the Home Office, up to 31 March 2004 (latest available), of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders issued, where restrictions imposed are specific to the Leeds city council area, is 122.

Breathalyser Tests

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many breathalyser tests were carried out in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 2000; and what percentage resulted in convictions.

Hazel Blears: Available information collected centrally on breath tests is at police force area level only. Buckingham constituency falls within the Thames Valley police force area. The table shows the number of breathalyser tests undertaken in Thames Valley in each year between 2000 and 2002 and the percentage resulting in a positive test or a refusal.
	
		Thames Valley
		
			  Positive/refused Number of screening breath tests  Percentage 
		
		
			 2000 30,800 17 
			 2001 26,200 18 
			 2002 25,300 30

Central Casualty Bureau

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Central Casualty Bureau is funded by central Government.

Hazel Blears: There is no specific ring-fenced budget to meet the costs of running the Central Casualty Bureau when it has been opened. Funding is derived from the central Government police grant, as are all other police activity costs.
	If the Central Casualty Bureau has been opened on behalf of a number of counties, forces may make a retrospective contribution following the incident.

Chechnya

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will halt the deportation to the Russian Federation of citizens from the Chechnya region until such time as their safety can be guaranteed; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: At the present time country information does not indicate that there are any reasons to halt the return to the Russian Federation of individuals from Chechnya, including those whose claims for asylum have been rejected, who no longer have a right to stay in the United Kingdom.
	All asylum and human rights claims are considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This consideration takes into account up to date information on the situation in the country of origin.

Child Abductions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by the Police Information Technology Organisation on developing new systems for alerting the public about child abductions.

Caroline Flint: The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) has tested the alert messaging capabilities of the Police Portal. The Portal can provide any force with a means to alert public subscribers, for example by text message to mobile phones, to inform them of child abductions. Planned co-operation with local media to quickly broadcast child alerts has proved itself the most reliable means for informing and engaging public support.
	The Association of Chief Police Officers has decided to progress the Portal's alert capability in the first instance for emergency messaging to those in the public and private sectors who have responsibility for public safety. This is being taken forward by a PITO Service Implementation Group, with representatives from the Metropolitan police, London Resilience within the Government Office for London, the Home Office and Cabinet Office.

Community Sentences

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the impact of community sentencing on re-offending rates.

Paul Goggins: There was a 3.1 per cent. reduction in reconviction rates for those commencing community penalties in 1999, compared to 1997. The methodology is explained in Home Office On-line Report 16/02.

Community Support Officers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it takes to train a community support officer.

Hazel Blears: The length of training given to Community Support Officers is a matter for individual chief officers to determine. In most forces training lasts from three to six weeks and combines classroom training with supervised patrol.

Corrections Bill

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring forward a Corrections Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 16 September 2004
	We intend to introduce legislation at the next available opportunity to implement a number of reforms which follow Lord Carter's review of the Correctional Services.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 8 June from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mr. and Mrs. T. Mahmoud;
	(2)  when he will reply to the letter to him dated 8 June from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. T. Mahmoud.

David Blunkett: Home Office officials have sent to my right hon. Friend a copy of the reply I sent to him on 12 July. I am sorry it did not reach him. Mr. and Mrs. Mahmoud do appear to qualify for consideration under the one-off exercise announced in October 2003, which allows a number of people who have claimed asylum and who have children in the UK to remain here indefinitely. Their case is now being considered.

Correspondence

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Torbay of 26 August regarding NHS work permits.

Des Browne: The Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) replied to the hon. Member on 21 September.

Correspondence

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in responding to the hon. Member for Leicester East's letter of 17 May.

Des Browne: The Managed Migration Directorate (MM) of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to my hon. Friend on 8 September 2004.
	MM apologised for the delay in replying, which was due to an administrative error. MM now have systems in place to minimise such delays in replying to official correspondence.

Departmental Expenditure

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by his Department on (a) advertising and (b) public relations consultants in each of the past eight years.

David Blunkett: The Home Office uses advertising and public relations consultants in support of public information and communication campaigns. Since 199697 spending has been as follows:
	199697
	5.23 million on advertising costs as part of total spend of 8.328 million. Communication spend represents 0.13 per cent. of total Home Office public expenditure of 6,416 million.
	Campaigns included car crime, recruitment of special constables, fire safety and electoral registration.
	199798
	1.4million on advertising costs as part of total spend of 3.372 million on total communications. Communication spend represented 0.05 per cent. of total Home Office public expenditure of 6,747 million.
	Campaigns included recruitment of special constables, fire safety, absent voting and electoral registration.
	199899
	1.8 million on advertising costs as part of total spend of 4.194 million on total communications. Communication spend represents 0.06 per cent. of total Home Office public expenditure of 7,608.2 million.
	Campaigns included smoke alarms, recruitment of special constables, crime partnerships and electoral registration.
	19992000
	5.65 million on advertising costs as part of total spend of 10.08 million on total communications. Communication spend represents 0.13 per cent. of total Home Office public expenditure of 7,996.2 million.
	Campaigns included chip pan safety, fire safety, recruitment of special constables, European Parliament elections and electoral registration.
	200001
	28.36 million on advertising costs as part of total spend of 35.637 million on total communication. Communication spend represents 0.39 per cent. of total Home office public expenditure of 9,068.7million.
	Campaigns included fire safety, vehicle crime and recruitment of police officers.
	200102
	14.4 million on advertising costs as part of total spend of 25.1 million on total communications. Communication spend represented 0.23 per cent. of total Home Office expenditure of 10,820.8 million.
	Campaigns included fire safety (smoke alarms), vehicle crime, internet child protection, drugs, recruitment of police officers and special constables and postal voting.
	200203
	9.9 million on advertising costs as part of total spend of 18.3 million on total communications. 0.14 per cent. of total Home Office public expenditure of 13,493.1 million.
	Campaigns included vehicle crime, internet child protection, drugs, firearms amnesty and recruitment of police officers.
	200304
	12.487 million on advertising costs as part of total spend of 22.083 million on total communications. Communication spend represents 0.18 per cent. of total Home Office expenditure of 12,605.5million.
	Campaigns included vehicle crime, internet child protection, drugs, recruitment of police officers and domestic.
	Figures up to 199798 are on a cash basis; after that they reflect the introduction of full Resource Accounting and Budgeting.

Dr. Bassam Odeh

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision will be made on the status of Dr. Bassam Odeh (Home Office reference A574053) following his successful appeal on 29 January.

Des Browne: A decision has been made to grant Dr. Odeh refugee status in the United Kingdom. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate is currently in the process of issuing the necessary status papers.

Drug Treatment

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the tender document for drug rehabilitation services in the Prison Service reference ST04589/659/1; and for what reason it was changed;
	(2)  what consultation he has undertaken with those who have provided drugs services in prisons on the new tender process.

Paul Goggins: The tender documents set out the basis for delivery of drug treatment in prisons. Changes have been made to reflect developments in drug treatment policy and to bring greater clarity around service delivery standards, pricing and performance.
	There has been extensive consultation on the new tender process with those who currently provide drug treatment services in prisons. This has included two national conferences for providers and a number of one-to-one discussions.

English Language Tests

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report progress in (a) developing criteria for English language tests for new entrants, (b) delivering English language tests and (c) exemption from tests of entrants from traditionally English-speaking countries.

Des Browne: From 28 July 2004, the standard of knowledge of English required of naturalisation applicants has been defined as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Entry 3. Applicants can demonstrate this by submitting with their application an ESOL certificate, an alternative qualification for learners of English of an equivalent or higher level, or an educational qualification that could have been obtained only by someone with good English.
	Naturalisation applicants from traditionally English-speaking countries are not exempted from this requirement. They should either produce an appropriate educational qualificationone which could have been obtained only by someone with good Englishor seek certification from a designated person that they have a knowledge of English to the level reasonably to be expected of a person of full age and capacity whose native language is English. At present, only Notaries are designated but further groups are being considered.

European Borders Agency

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the decision of the United Kingdom to accept limited participation in the European Borders Agency, without Gibraltar; and for what reason the United Kingdom's full participation was rejected by the EU.

Des Browne: holding answer 14 September 2004
	Operational co-operation in the Agency is important to the UK, as an effectively managed external border is in the interests of all Member States. We therefore took an active role in negotiations to ensure that provision was made for involving the UK in the Agency's activities.
	The UK is not participating in the adoption of the Border Agency Regulation because the Council took the view that the UK could not opt in under the Title IV Protocol, because the regulation builds on the external border provisions of the Schengen acquis, in which the UK does not participate. Accordingly the UK has no vote on adoption. The UK disagrees with this interpretation and with the express exclusion of Gibraltar.
	The UK does not participate in the external border provisions of the Schengen acquis, because we believe it necessary to retain the right to carry out our own frontier controls.

Excessive Drinking

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the impact of initiatives by the licensed trade to curb excessive drinking.

Hazel Blears: The Interim Analytical Report, which led to the publication of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England in March this year highlighted some good initiatives undertaken by the alcohol industry collectively and individually but found that good practice was sporadic and unco-ordinated. One of the recommendations in the Strategy was for Government to develop a social responsibility scheme together with the industry. We are working closely with industry representatives to take this recommendation forward.
	The Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign that has been running this summer saw concerted activity by police and partners to tackle alcohol related violence and disorder and target under age and binge drinking. The results of the campaign highlight the need for more to be done on the part of the industry.

Excessive Drinking

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the costs involved in policing alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in (a) England and Wales, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) Leeds in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Police authority accounts are not kept in a form which would make it possible to identify the costs of policing alcohol related anti-social behaviour, and there is no specific grant made available to forces to deal directly with the problems associated with excessive drinking. It is for individual police forces to decide how they allocate their resources to tackle their crime and disorder priorities.
	The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England, published on March 15 this year estimates that alcohol-related crime and disorder costs taxpayers up to 7.3 billion a year.

False Passports

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bogus passports were recovered in police operations in the last year for which figures are available.

Des Browne: The information requested is not available as the number of bogus passports recovered is not collated centrally.

Identity Cards

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the performance milestones in the contract for the design and structure of an identity card.

Des Browne: No contracts have been let for the design and structure of the identity card.

Immigration and Asylum Events

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many events the Home Office has organised for public organisations on immigration and asylum since 2003.

Des Browne: The Home Office organises a range of events concerning asylum and immigration, which involve other organisations from outside Government and within. However, details of these are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Managed Migration Department

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people work at the Managed Migration Department.

Des Browne: As of 30 June 2004, there were 2,286 permanent staff employed in the Managed Migration Directorate (2,096.9 full-time equivalent).

National Offender Management Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with (a) county probation officers and (b) criminal justice boards on the National Offender Management Scheme.

Paul Goggins: All probation staff have been given the opportunity to comment on both written consultation documents issued since January 2004. Additionally the chief executive of the National Offender Management Service has conducted 10 regional meetings involving over 3,000 staff from the probation and prison service.
	Local criminal justice boards have also been offered opportunities to comment on the written consultation documents and their responses made up just under 10 per cent. of those received to the second exercise.

National Offender Management Scheme

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long stakeholders have been given to respond to the paper on the structure of the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: There have been two formal written consultation documents issued since January 2004. Reducing CrimeChanging Lives was published in January 2004 with a deadline for response of 4 March. The consultation paper on the organisational design was issued in May with a deadline of 30 June for response. In both instances submissions were received and accepted beyond these dates and included in the analysis of responses. In accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultation a summary analysis and response is being prepared and will be issued by the Government shortly.

National Offender Management Scheme

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with the major providers of drugs services to jails in England and Wales concerning the introduction of the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: There have been two formal written consultations on the introduction of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and a number of the major providers of drug services have taken the opportunity to contribute. These responses have been analysed and used as the basis for informing policy developments. The providers of drugs services are important partners within NOMS and the National Offender Manager met representatives of drug service agencies in September. A new unit reporting to the National Offender Manager has been established to oversee relationships with the voluntary sector.

National Offender Management Scheme

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what way the creation of regional offender managers within the National Offender Management Service will contribute towards reducing the prison population.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 16 September 2004
	The Regional Offender Managers will play a pivotal role in reforming the delivery of correctional services, the principal aim of which is to reduce re-offending. Key features of these reforms are the development of end-to-end management of offenders and a greater use of effective community sentences in place of short-term imprisonment.

National Offender Management Scheme

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how regional offender managers in the National Offender Management Service structure will hold probation areas to account for their performance.

Paul Goggins: The Regional Offender Managers (ROMS) will hold probation areas to account through service level agreements, which will be based on existing standards and key performance targets.

National Offender Management Scheme

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budgets regional offender managers will have for (a) 200405 and (b) 200506.

Paul Goggins: The budgets for Regional Offender Manager in full for 200506 will be determined in light of the development of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the overall budget for NOMS in 200506.

National Offender Management Scheme

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for the introduction of market testing of prison establishments under the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: An announcement about the Market Testing of prison establishments will be made in due course.

National Offender Management Scheme

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether each Governor will be responsible for setting charges for prisoner places for their own establishment under the new structure for the National Offender Management Service;
	(2)  who will be responsible for setting the cost to regional offender managers for places in (a) public and (b) privately run prisons under the new National Offender Management Service structure.

Paul Goggins: A pricing and charging mechanism for prisoner places is currently being considered as part of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Change Programme. Any mechanism will be agreed by the Chief Executive of NOMS and approved by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

National Offender Management Scheme

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to (a) privatise and (b) open to contestability a (i) probation area and (ii) National Offender Management Service region.

Paul Goggins: There are no plans to privatise any part of the National Offender Management Service, or its regions or probation areas.
	We are considering how we might open up probation services to contestability but no decisions have yet been made on the scope or extent of this.

National Offender Management Scheme

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he expects contestability in the National Offender Management Service to achieve more effective service delivery.

Paul Goggins: In the report Managing Offenders-Reducing Crime Lord Carter emphasised that service delivery can be further improved through greater use of competition from private and voluntary sectors. We accept this advice and said so in our response Reducing CrimeChanging Lives.
	We want the most cost effective custodial and community sentences no matter who delivers them. Contestability ensures value for money, with the optimum combination of cost, quality and effectiveness delivered through competition and partnership arrangements between and within the public, private and voluntary sectors.

National Offender Management Scheme

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how probation boards under the National Offender Management Service structure will extend their commissioning functions.

Paul Goggins: Under existing legislation, Probation Boards have the power to commission all the services of their probation area.

National Offender Management Scheme

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how regional offender managers with the National Offender Management Service will achieve greater innovation within the prison and probation services.

Paul Goggins: Regional Offender Managers will play a key role in reforming the delivery of correctional services and implementing the new sentencing framework.
	The Regional Offender Managers will steer the development of the core offender management function and contestability. These changes require effective working between the prison and probation services, and wider co-ordination above Probation Board level in order to ensure nation-wide consistency and accountability in our approach to reducing re-offending.

National Offender Management Scheme

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will have the authority to move a prisoner to another prison once a place has been purchased by a regional offender manager under the new structure for the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: Prisoners move between establishments for a variety of different reasons. Decisions to transfer prisoners will be a matter for the Regional Offender Manager, advised by the Offender Manager, Population Management Unit and others.

National Offender Management Scheme

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it will be the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service to set the cost that can be charged for a prison place at each establishment.

Paul Goggins: A pricing and charging mechanism for prisoner places is currently being considered as part of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Change Programme. Any mechanism will be agreed by the Chief Executive of NOMS and approved by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

Nuclear Installations (Threat Assessments)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many threat assessments to nuclear installations and nuclear materials in transit have been conducted by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre since 11 September 2001.

David Blunkett: The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) analytical effort devoted specifically to threats to nuclear installations and nuclear materials in transit is proportionateand varies over time in responseto the number and credibility of those threats.

Paula Higson

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the appointment date was of Paula Higson; and what her current civil service grade is.

Des Browne: Paula Higson took up her appointment as Senior Director for Managed Migration on 15 September 2003. Ms Higson is a member of the Senior Civil Service.

Police

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances police community safety officers are (a) issued with batons and (b) allowed to use them.

Hazel Blears: The equipment issued to Community Support Officers (CSOs) is at the discretion of individual chief officers, taking into account all the relevant health and safety considerations. I am not aware of any chief having authorised the issue of batons to CSOs.

Police

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police Community Safety Officers were issued with batons in Parliament Square on the afternoon of 15 September.

Hazel Blears: The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis has confirmed that his Community Support Officers are not issued with batons and none was issued with batons on 15 September.

Police

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) community support officers were employed in North Yorkshire in (i) May 1979 and (ii) each May since then.

Hazel Blears: Information for police personnel strength in North Yorkshire is set out in the table. Since 1995 the frequency of the collection of police personnel data was reduced and is currently collected quarterly. To provide continuity the information in the table is for 31 March of each year from 1979.
	
		North Yorkshire Police
		
			 Year (as at 31 March) Police officers(48) Community Support Officers Police (Support) staff 2 
		
		
			 1979 1,342   
			 1980 1,352   
			 1981 1,355   
			 1982 1,354   
			 1983 1,366   
			 1984 1,359   
			 1985 1,332   
			 1986 1,361  334 
			 1987 1,353  329 
			 1988 1,372  357 
			 1989 1,370  420 
			 1990 1,379  432 
			 1991 1,387  448 
			 1992 1,398  445 
			 1993 1,393  452 
			 1994 1,318  438 
			 1995 1,300  507 
			 1996 1,324  520 
			 1997 1,338  520 
			 1998 1,367  543 
			 1999 1,337  541 
			 2000 1,283  492 
			 2001 1,305  591 
			 2002 1,417  743 
			 2003 1,444  723 
			 2004 1,529 (50)52 864 
			 2004 (31 August) 1,535 49 Not available 
		
	
	(48) Police staff strength not available before 1986.
	(49) Data prior to 1996 were collected by the Police Resources Unit of the Crime Reduction and Community Safety Group of the Home Office. 1996 to March 2004 is collected by the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS). August 2004 was collected separately outside of the normal data collection arrangements and has not been subject to the same validation as RDS data.
	(50) The first CSOs were appointed in May 2003 to the North Yorkshire Constabulary.

Police

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) violent and (b) drug-related offences there were in the Thames Valley in (i) 1997, (ii) 2001 and (iii) the latest year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 22 July 2004
	Police recorded violent crime comprises violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery. The available statistics for violent crime in Thames Valley are given in the table.
	
		Violent crime offences recorded by the police in Thames Valley
		
			 Period Number of offences 
		
		
			 1997 8,589 
			 200102 29,201 
			 200304 32,492 
		
	
	Note:
	Numbers of recorded crimes are affected by changes in reporting and recording practice. In particular, changes to the counting rules in 1998 and the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002 led to an increase in the number of crimes recorded by the police.
	In 200102, 25 per cent. of all violent crime recorded in Thames Valley were common assaults resulting in no injury to the victim. The equivalent figure for 200304 was 24 per cent.
	It is not possible to identify drug-related crime from the recorded crime statistics. The figure for 1997 relates to offences of trafficking only in 1997. Possession and other drug offences were added to recorded crime series in 199899. The available information is given in the table.
	
		Drug offences recorded by the police in Thames Valley
		
			 Period Number of offences 
		
		
			 1997(51) 566 
			 200102(52) 4,903 
			 200304(52) 5,404 
		
	
	(51) Drug trafficking only
	(52) Drug trafficking, possession and other drug offences.
	Note:
	Numbers of recorded crimes are affected by changes in reporting and recording practice. In particular, changes to the counting rules in 1998 and the introduction of the National Crime .Recording Standard in April 2002 led to an increase in the number of crimes recorded by the police.
	The British Crime Survey (BCS) also provides data on the level of violent crime in England and Wales. However, due to the variability of specific offence figures at police force area level regional figures only are available. Data at regional level have been published as a rate per 10,000 adults since the 200102 BCS and are presented for the relevant region below.
	
		Total BSC violence rate per 10,000 adults for the South East Region
		
			  
		
		
			 200102 895 
			 200203 826 
			 200304 704 
		
	
	Source:
	200102, 200203, 200304 BCS Interviews
	The difference in the above rates between 200102 and 200304 is not statistically significant, therefore the level of violent crime in the region has remained stable according to the BCS.
	In the 200304 BCS, 55 per cent. of all violent crime in the South East resulted in no injury to the victim. Figures for previous years are not available.
	The BCS does not have data published on the number of drug-related offences.

Prisons

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the findings of the IG16 report into a smoking policy for prisons from 1996.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 22 July 2004
	The review of prisoner smoking indicated in Instruction to Governors 16 of 1996 did not result in the production of a report.
	However in 2003 the Department of Health and the Prison Service published AQUITTED: Best practice guidance for developing smoking cessation services in prisons. Extra funding of 500,000 has been made available for each of the three years up to 2006. The launch of AQUITTED was supported by a programme of training seminars for staff of prisons and their local primary care trusts. The effectiveness of the initiative is being evaluated and a report is expected in 2005.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases involving equal pay claims against the Prison Service have been taken to an employment tribunal since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The number of claims for each year are:
	
		
			  Number of claims 
		
		
			 1997 0 
			 1998 0 
			 1999 998 
			 2000 310 
			 2001 5 
			 2002 359 
			 2003 12 
			 2004 87

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employment tribunals have found against the Prison Service in equal pay claims in each of the last five years; and what the financial implications of those decisions have been.

Paul Goggins: There have been findings against the Prison Service in eight equal pay claims since 1997. As these findings are currently subject to appeal by the Prison Service it is not possible to provide an estimate of the financial implications.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what appeals the Prison Service has made against decisions of employment tribunals in equal pay cases in 2004; and what the cost of those appeals has been.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service lodged an appeal in the case of Bailey and Others v. Home Office on 26 August 2004. No date has been fixed for the hearing, and it is consequently not possible to estimate its cost.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions and recommendations have been made in the final report of the Prison Service's Safer Locals research project being conducted by Alison Liebling from Cambridge University; if he will make a statement; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

Paul Goggins: Alison Liebling's final report of the Prison Service's Safer Locals research project is awaited.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which prisons prisoners can undertake (a) vocational training courses and (b) construction industry training courses.

Paul Goggins: Improving the skills of offenders and our performance in placing them in sustainable employment is central to our strategy for reducing re-offending.
	Although we do not collect this information centrally, by bringing together funding for education and vocational training into one ring fenced budget we have given the Prison Service more flexibility to decide locally how best to use their funds to support local work-based learning initiatives.
	Recent capital investment to upgrade facilities in prison workshops, the introduction of prisoner training programmes with employer involvement, and greater joint working with sector skills councilsincluding with the Construction Industry Training Boardwill further ensure that prisoners can achieve skills and qualifications in areas and at levels needed by industry.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners, on average, attended the prison chapel in each prison per week in the past 12 months.

Paul Goggins: This information is not routinely collated and could be done so only at disproportionate cost.

Prolific Priority Offender

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his definition is of a prolific priority offender.

Paul Goggins: The prolific and other priority offender (PPO) strategy has been designed to allow local areas to tackle those offenders who are causing the most harm to their communities and have been identified locally through police intelligence.
	We have issued guidance on the criteria which should be used in selecting prolific and other priority offenders. This recommends that selection should be based upon the nature and volume of the crimes an individual is committing; the nature and volume of other harm they are causing (e.g. as a result of their gang leadership or antisocial behaviour); and other local criteria, based on the impact of the individuals concerned on their local communities.

Public Relations/Marketing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each police force spent on public relations and marketing consultants in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Racially Motivated Crime

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racially motivated violent crimes have (a) been recorded and (b) resulted in successful prosecutions in each year since 1997, broken down by police force.

Hazel Blears: Racially aggravated offences are now categorised with religiously aggravated offences. The two tables give available data for recorded offences, prosecutions and convictions.
	
		Table 1Number of racially aggravated recorded crimes in England and Wales, 19992000 to 200304
		
			 Financial year Racially aggravated common assault Racially aggravated other wounding Racially aggravated harassment 
		
		
			 19992000 4,275 2,687 10,758 
			 200001 4,711 3,176 12,468 
			 200102(53) 5,164 3,463 14,975 
			 2002031,2 4,491 4,352 16,696 
			 2003041,2 4,017 4,840 20,584 
		
	
	(53) The introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard on 1 April 2002 may have impacted on the figures. There may be some effect in 200102 from forces adopting the principles of the NCRS early.
	(54) The figures include religiously aggravated offences from 200203.
	
		Table 2Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for racially aggravated offences
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 
			 Region/police force area Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 East 
			 Cambridgeshire 49 24 93 49 91 49 95 48 
			 Norfolk 34 16 51 26 65 24 66 29 
			 Suffolk 35 16 39 9 74 23 64 30 
			 Bedfordshire 17 4 36 15 58 13 67 17 
			 Hertfordshire 40 10 100 27 116 31 130 50 
			 Essex 55 19 89 27 163 30 120 26 
			  
			 East Midlands 
			 Derbyshire 43 13 93 44 93 53 112 58 
			 Nottinghamshire 165 56 261 122 251 111 276 104 
			 Lincolnshire 7 1 30 9 34 13 29 16 
			 Leicestershire 97 34 201 104 235 119 253 111 
			 Northamptonshire 40 19 36 10 8 11 22 8 
			  
			 London 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,512 425 2,039 672 1,646 550 1,666 607 
			 London, City of 11 6 34 14 11 7 18 4 
			  
			 North East 
			 Northumbria 66 14 126 46 245 94 302 115 
			 Durham 23 8 47 22 56 33 86 42 
			 Cleveland 20 12 23 10 24 10 31 10 
			 North West 
			 Cumbria 9 5 19 10 17 10 48 17 
			 Lancashire 90 40 180 80 299 102 358 156 
			 Merseyside 54 25 123 43 205 70 134 60 
			 Greater Manchester 253 80 482 177 797 308 679 253 
			 Cheshire 45 11 115 44 106 42 104 41 
			  
			 South East 
			 Thames Valley 80 23 132 53 172 71 149 68 
			 Hampshire 81 40 246 87 237 98 270 121 
			 Surrey 5 6 12 6 13 11 16 15 
			 Kent 39 10 71 39 67 29 41 14 
			 Sussex 43 8 97 40 113 52 127 42 
			  
			 South West 
			 Devon and Cornwall 30 5 117 44 120 42 98 44 
			 Avon and Somerset 63 27 127 40 173 61 191 75 
			 Gloucestershire 18 8 79 27 60 23 60 30 
			 Wiltshire 25 11 29 12 39 21 42 24 
			 Dorset 17 3 50 14 62 23 51 22 
			  
			 West Midlands 
			 West Midlands 198 57 706 228 1,038 318 997 322 
			 Staffordshire 23 5 123 76 188 68 178 81 
			 West Mercia 20 7 104 45 175 99 154 79 
			 Warwickshire 7 5 21 7 43 19 63 45 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber
			 North Yorkshire 7 5 46 25 43 18 50 17 
			 West Yorkshire 152 42 297 91 427 115 327 129 
			 South Yorkshire 46 16 69 33 117 67 139 75 
			 Humberside 24 13 44 19 67 37 117 48 
			  
			 Welsh 
			 Dyfed Powys 21 7 41 17 43 24 55 35 
			 Gwent 43 21 116 37 105 51 82 46 
			 North Wales 7 2 43 15 54 19 44 14 
			 South Wales 201 65 270 101 338 113 243 92 
			  
			 England and Wales 3,815 1,224 7,057 2,616 8,288 3,082 8,154 3,240 
		
	
	Note:
	These data are on the all offence basis.

Sentencing

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the recommendations were of the Sentencing Advisory Panel set out in spring 2003; and what his proposals are regarding implementation of each recommendation.

Paul Goggins: In February 2003, the Sentencing Advisory Panel issued advice to the Court of Appeal proposing a new sentencing guideline for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving. The advice is available on the Panel's website.
	On 3 April 2003, the Court of Appeal issued sentencing guidelines based on the proposals from the Panel.

Sentencing

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the sentencing guidelines will assist victims' representatives to understand the basis of sentences.

Paul Goggins: Yes. The Sentencing Guidelines Council will, in due course, provide guidelines that indicate a sentence of a particular kind, or within a particular range for each criminal offence. Under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the court has a duty to state in open court, in ordinary language and in general terms, its reasons for deciding on the sentence passed. As part of this duty, where the court departs from guidelines relevant to the sentence it must state its reasons for doing so. The aim of these provisions is to enable the offender, victims and other interested parties better to understand why a particular sentence was imposed.

Sentencing

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the changes in the (a) frequency and (b) number of sentences of imprisonment over the past 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The foremost reason for the increase in frequency and number of prison sentences is increased severity of sentencing. In 1993 the custody rate for persons sentenced at all courts in England and Wales was 4.2 per cent.; this had risen to 7.9 per cent. in 2002 (latest data available).
	The new Sentencing Guidelines Council established by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (CJA) will in due course create and revise a comprehensive set of Guidelines for all offences, so as to promote consistent and just sentencing by the courts within the framework provided by Parliament. In every individual case, judges and magistrates will continue to make their own decision as to the appropriate sentence, but will be required to operate within the council's guidelines or explain why they have gone outside them in that particular case.

Sentencing

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Sentencing Guidelines Council will have a role in analyzing recent trends in magistrates' sentences.

Paul Goggins: The Sentencing Guidelines Council will be analysing sentencing data from all courts in taking forward its work.

Terrorism Offences

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people have been (a) arrested and (b) charged with an offence under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2000 in each year for which records are available;
	(2)  how many convictions have been secured for each category of offence under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2000 in each year for which records are available.

David Blunkett: The figures requested are not routinely collected centrally by the police in the form requested. However, their records show that, cumulatively from 11 September 2001 until 30 June 2004, 609 people were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000. 61 of these were charged under the Act and 38 under both the Terrorism Act and other legislation. The remainder were either released without charge, bailed to return, cautioned, charged under other legislation (such as that for murder, grievous bodily harm and use of firearms or explosives), or dealt with under immigration or mental health legislation. Of the 99 individuals charged under the Terrorism Act, 15 have been convicted.
	The above figures now appear on the Home Office website and will be updated every six months.
	Home Office Research Development and Statistics publish an annual Command Paper and supplementary volumes of criminal statistics. A breakdown of prosecutions and convictions under the Terrorism Act 2000 for 2001 and 2002 is in the accompanying table. Figures for 2003 will not be available until later in the year.
	We are currently undertaking further work on the numbers of those arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequently charged under other legislation. We will publish these figures once they are available. Previous estimates, which are likely to under-estimate those charged in this way, had suggested up to January 2004. Of the 530 people then arrested under the Terrorism Act, 263 are known to have been released without further sanction. Of the remaining 267, 165 had been charged (94 under the Act and 71 under other legislation). Others were released to immigration service detention, sectioned under the Mental Health Act, bailed, cautioned or at that point still not dealt with.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Terrorism Act 2000, England and Wales 2001 and 2002 1
		
			   2001 2002 
			  Offence description  Statute Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 Relating to membership of proscribed organisations Terrorism Act 2000, sec. 11 3  1 1 
			 Wearing any item of dress in support of a proscribed organisation Terrorism Act 2000, sec. 13a 
			 Wears, carries or displays any article in support of a proscribed organisation Terrorism Act 2000, sec. 13b   1 1 
			 Contributions towards acts of terrorism Terrorism Act 2000, secs. 1518 and 22 1  8 1 
			 Failure to disclose knowledge or suspicion of acts of terrorism Terrorism Act 2000, sec. 19 
			 Failure to leave a cordoned area immediately when ordered to do so by a constable in uniform Terrorism Act 2000, sec. 36(1)(a)   1  
			 Failure to leave premises, which abut or are wholly or partially within a cordoned area, immediately if ordered to do so by a constable in uniform Terrorism Act 2000 sec. 36(1)(b)   1  
			 Failure of driver or person in charge of a vehicle which is in a cordoned area to immediately move the vehicle if ordered to do so by a constable in uniform Terrorism Act 2000 sec. 36(c)(d)(e) 
			 Contravention or a prohibition or restriction order made by a constable in uniform to a cordoned area Terrorism Act 2000 sec. 36(f) 
			 Making any disclosure likely to prejudice an investigation about acts of terrorism or failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism Terrorism Act 2000 sec. 39 
			 Failure to stop (Power to stop and search vehicles and pedestrians) Terrorism Act 2000, secs. 43, 44 and 47(1)(a)(b)(2) 1  1  
			 Wilful obstruction (Power to stop and search vehicles and pedestrians) Terrorism Act 2000, secs. 43, 44 and 47(1)(c) and (2) 
			 Failure to move vehicle when ordered to do so by a constable in uniform (vehicle had been permitted to remain at rest in contravention of any prohibition or restriction) Terrorism Act 2000, secs. 48 and 51(2) 
			 Leaves a vehicle or permits a vehicle to remain at rest, on a road in contravention of a prohibition or restriction Terrorism Act 2000, secs. 48 and 51(1) 
			 Provides instruction; invites another to receive instruction in weapon training Terrorism Act 2000, sec. 54 1  1  
			 Directing terrorist training Terrorism Act 2000, sec. 56   1  
			 Collect, record or possession of information or articles likely to be of use to terrorists Terrorism Act 2000, sec. 57 and 58   3 1 
			 Failure to furnish information when required by examining officer Terrorism Act 2000, sch. 7(5)(a) and (18)   1  
			 Failing to produce either a valid passport or identifying document when required by examining officer Terrorism Act 2000, sch. 7(5)(b)and(18) 
			 Failing to declare or produce any relevant documents when required by examining officer Terrorism Act 2000, sch. 7(5)(c)(d)and(18) 
			 Failing to submit to search by examining officer or person acting on his/her behalf Terrorism Act 2000, sch. 7(7)(8)and(18) 
			 Failing to complete and produce an embarkation card when required to by examining officer Terrorism Act 2000, sch. 7(16) and (18)   1  
			 Wilfully obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty in a cordoned area Terrorism Act 2000, sch. 5, sec. 36(1)(2) 
			 Wilfully obstructing or seeking to frustrate the object of a search in a cordoned area Terrorism Act 2000, sch.(13) 
			 Total  6  20 4 
		
	
	(55) These data are on the principal offence basis.

TimeBank and Do-It

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to publish the research commissioned by his Department into (a) TimeBank and (b) Do-it.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office research into the work of TimeBank and the do-it website was commissioned for internal Home Office use and it is not intended that it should be published in full, as it contains commercially sensitive information. However summaries of the main findings of this research are:
	TimeBank
	TimeBank's performance does not compare unfavourably with that of other Government funded programmes.
	TimeBank has managed to attract people into volunteering who have never volunteered before and has managed to broaden the base from which volunteers are recruited to some extent by attracting significant numbers of young people and people from black and minority ethnic communities.
	Perhaps its biggest success has been its targeted campaigns which have been extremely well received by the Campaign Partners, but less so by TimePartners.
	There are ongoing difficulties with the TimePartner system and the link-up with the do-it database.
	The functions of TimeBank and other key, strategic volunteering agencies such as do-it, the Community Channel and the National Centre for Volunteering overlap.
	do-it
	do-it has made a good start. In October 2001 it reported 9,000 page impressions per week, and by January 2002 it was up to 17,000. In March 2003 do-it was receiving 100,000 unique users per month. Opportunities cover a broad spectrum of service areas and skill levels.
	There are gaps in the evaluation that need to be addressed. There are currently no systematic data to indicate how many people have started to volunteer as a result of their contact with do-it, or indeed any feedback from users on the services that do-it provides.
	In the absence of user feedback, feedback from organisations was mixed. Three quarters of organisations that responded said they had received volunteers through do-it (average of 22 in the last year per organisation). Three in five organisations felt that do-it had been an effective recruitment tool.
	The capital modernisation scheme was felt to have been a great success, both by recipient organisations and representatives from the wider voluntary sector.
	These issues are currently being addressed by both organisations.

Victim Support

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's future funding plans are for Victim Support Services.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 14 September 2004
	In recent years the Home Office grant to victim support has more than doubled, from 11.7 million at the start of the financial year 199798 to 30 million in 200405. We anticipate that the level of Home Office funding for victim support will continue to be in the region of 30 million for 200506 and 200607.

Volunteers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of (a) adults and (b) children who volunteer in the UK.

Fiona Mactaggart: According to the Home Office Citizenship Survey 2003, which covered England and Wales, 42 per cent. of people aged 16 and over (17.9 million people) volunteered formally 1 at least once in the 12 months before interview; and 28 per cent. (11.8 million people), at least once a month in the 12 months before interview. 62 per cent. of people aged 16 and over (26.4 million people) volunteered informally 2 at least once in the 12 months before interview; 37 per cent. (15.6 million people), at least once a month in the 12 months before interview. 3
	According to the Young People's Boost to the Home Office Citizenship Survey 2003, 63 per cent. of young people aged between 11 and 15 volunteered formally at least once in the 12 months before interview. For technical reasons it has not been possible to estimate the number of young people in England and Wales who volunteered formally.
	There is no comparable information available for formal and informal volunteering in the UK. The main report of findings from the Home Office Citizenship Survey 2003 will be published shortly by the Home Office. The report of findings from the Young People's Boost will be published shortly by the Department for Education and Skills.
	Reports of findings from the Home Office Citizenship Survey 2001 and 2003 have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	1 Formal volunteering is defined as giving help unpaid through groups, clubs or organisations to benefit other people or the environment.
	2 Informal volunteering is defined as giving help unpaid as individuals to others who were not members of their families.
	3 Estimates of the numbers of people volunteering formally and informally were based on 2002-based projections of population for 2003 provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

Work Permits (Care Homes)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permit applications were received in respect of the residential care home sector in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Des Browne: It is not possible to identify the number of work permit applications received in respect of the residential care home sector without incurring disproportionate cost.

Young Offenders

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders aged 18 to 21 have been moved between prisons on overcrowding drafts (a) this year and (b) in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: This information on overcrowding drafts is not available, as the reasons for transfers are not recorded centrally.
	Altogether there were around 13,000 inter-prison transfers of young prisoners (aged 18 to 20) in 200304. As this figure refers to all movements in this period, it may include some young prisoners who were transferred more than once during this period. It is not possible to identify how many of these transfers were on overcrowding drafts, although the considerable majority will have been the result of normal sentence planning procedures.
	Information on inter-prison transfers of young prisoners in previous years was not centrally recorded and is not available.

Young Offenders

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many youths under the age of 18 from the Buckingham constituency have been held in young offenders rehabilitation centres in each year since 2001.

Paul Goggins: The number of young people under 18 remanded in or sentenced to custody by Buckinghamshire courts since 2001 is shown in the table, together with the types of establishment they were held in. We do not have separate information for the Buckingham constituency.
	
		
			  Remanded 1 Sentenced 
			  STC LASCH YOI STC LASCH YOI 
		
		
			 2001 0 0 4 1 1 15 
			 2002 0 3 4 1 1 23 
			 2003 0 1 0 1 2 7 
			 2004 1 1 0 2 0 9 
		
	
	(56) to avoid double counting, young people remanded in custody who were later given a custodial sentence are shown in the remanded column only.
	STCs are Secure Training Centres; LASCHs are Local Authority Secure Children's Homes (the data on both these come from the Youth Justice Board ) and YOIs are Prison Service Young Offender Institutions (the data on these come from the Prison Service ).